Have you ever been interested in the fields of horticulture and plant science? If you are an avid gardener or you just have a few indoor flowers at home, then you will definitely be interested in learning more about your flowers through plant identification apps.
In the past, people used to look for information about plants in books. Then, they would read a lot of articles on the internet to find out what kind of plant was in front of them.
Today, new technologies are not limited to marketing trends. Engineers and programmers strive to do not only unimaginable things but also implement ideas that help in solving routine problems for ordinary users.
And there are innovations in the field of studying and caring for plants too! Already now you can say a specialized plant and tree identifier app, in which you will find not only flower recognition functions but also many other options.
How Do Plant Recognition Applications Work?
Plant and tree identifier apps work on one of two principles. The first is based on a community of plant lovers and creates a blog section where you can post a photo of your flower. You can even describe its disease and get a response from other users with information about what kind of plant and how to care for it.
Other apps, however, are more modernized: they include artificial intelligence. To recognize a plant, you only need to send a photo to the app. In just a few seconds you will learn all the details about care, and disease treatment and get interesting recommendations from the app on how to effectively nurture the flower.
There are many such apps on the market. So, we have compiled a rating of the best plant identification apps that work according to different principles.
#1 PLNT
The first place in our rating goes to the PLNT app. The app recognizes plants with an accuracy of up to 98.7%. There you will find information about species and types of plants, data about flower diseases, and even which diseases are characteristic of a particular plant.
The app works and recognizes flowers based on artificial intelligence. Sometimes the app may ask you to take deluxe photos of a flower’s leaves, for example, to increase the chance of correct recognition.
There are also a lot of additional and very nice features. It includes a watering schedule, the light sensor of the room where the flower stands, and the calculation of the necessary amount of water for watering. Also in the application, there is a section “Blog”. There, you can find useful articles about indoor and garden plants and their care.
#2 PictureThis
The second place in our ranking goes to the PictureThis app. It has an extensive database of plants and flowers with high-quality photos and reference information about various plants from all over the world.
The application recognizes more than 17,000 plant species from the user’s photo with an accuracy of up to 98%. The principle of operation is the same as in the first application: take a photo of a flower and get the result.
The functionality of PictureThis is extensive: you can find information on how to properly care for plants for effective growth, there is a watering reminder function, quick diagnosis of plant problems with the help of the Plant Doctor function, identification of diseases, advice on preventing plant diseases, and a tips section, which contains tips on plant care.
#3 LeafSnap
LeafSnap is in third place. This is one of the best applications for recognizing not only flowers and indoor plants but also trees. The recognition accuracy rate is about 90% and the app has a huge database. To recognize a flower or tree, you need to take a photo of the leaf of the plant and the plant in general.
After sending the photo, the app will determine its exact shape using an algorithm developed by experts from Columbia University and the University of Maryland.
If LeafSnap cannot recognize the plant, it will provide the user with additional questions, such as data on where the plants grow, and what their flowers and seeds look like. The app’s functions are classic: plant identification, information on proper care, and recognizing the plant’s disease and gender.
#4 FlowerChecker
The FlowerChecker application is in fourth place. It is focused on the identification of plants, and flowers. But, it is also able to recognize mosses, lichens, and fungi. The FlowerChecker application has a different working principle: there is no artificial intelligence in it.
The identification process is built on a community of gardening enthusiasts. To recognize a plant you need to upload an image of a flower you don’t know. Other users will share detailed information about the plant with you.
On the one hand, the identification process is long. On the other hand, such identification will be more accurate due to the fact that it is performed by live people.
Also in the app, you will find functions to recognize plants, flowers, mosses, and lichens, identify plant diseases, get tips on flower care and treatment, as well as be able to infiltrate the community of gardeners.
#5 iNaturalist
In last place is the iNaturalist app. The app can recognize not only plants but also insects, animals, and birds. This tool is mainly designed to work with wild plants. But, it is also good at recognizing indoor and garden plants and flowers.
The recognition principle is also with the help of artificial intelligence. For identification, you need to take a picture of the flower, and then click on the “view suggestions” button.
iNaturalist will display the most likely variants of its name for your plant. If the plant is identified correctly, you can upload it to the database and add a description to share information with other users about that plant species.
FAQs
In case you have any questions left, here are some FAQs to help you out!
Q1. How Accurate Are Plant Identification Apps in Recognizing Different Plant Species?
A1: Plant identification apps vary in accuracy, but top-rated ones like PLNT and PictureThis boast recognition rates of up to 98%. The accuracy often depends on the app’s technology, with some utilizing artificial intelligence for precise identification.
Q2. Do Plant Identification Apps Offer More Than Just Identifying Plants?
Yes, most plant identification apps offer additional features. For example, PLNT provides a watering schedule and light sensor function, PictureThis includes a Plant Doctor for quick diagnoses, and FlowerChecker connects users to a community for detailed information beyond identification. These apps often serve as comprehensive tools for plant care enthusiasts.
Conclusion
To summarise, plant recognition apps are quite popular among plant care enthusiasts and professional gardeners. In such apps, you will find many features apart from the plant recognition option.
For example, recognition features and recommendations on disease treatment, watering tips, and room light for a particular flower. Also with such apps, you can join a community of gardeners, find like-minded people, and learn more nuances about caring for your flower.
