Has anyone used the PlantNet Plant Identification App?

[marigoldflower]

Hello All.

I was thinking about getting a plant ID app and have seen many recommendations for the Picture This App here, but I was looking for something without ads.

Has anyone used PlantNet and is it any good?

Thanks!

I use Candide and it works very well.

I have a paid version of PictureThis, and it’s good.

Thanks @HaggisTheGreat. Yes, I've seen many vouch for that one on MN

I'll check that one out @ANewDoll. Thanks!

Can I ask what you're planning to use the app for?

They aren't always accurate for ID for deciding whether to eat something, but might be a fun addition to other ways of finding out about a plant.

I find posting in here is a good method!

They all work by matching areas of different shapes and colours in pictures, so although they'll get it right a lot of the time, they can also get it spectacularly wrong, and they don't know the difference. So never rely on an id from an app, use it only as a starting point, read up about the plant suggested, eg if google says "X is an endangered plant known from a couple of sites in the southern hemisphere" don't say "whoopee! I've got a really rare plant!", say "ah, the app got it wrong".

It's early days for them. There are thousands and thousands of plants, and they're mostly green - it's not surprising that they don't do very well yet. I don't know if they can use any metadata from photos eg date and location - that might help quite a bit I suppose.

As I commented on a recent thread though, they have no nous.

I use it. I tested it with lot of plants I already knew and it got them all right. I would double check with other sources if I wanted to eat the plant or use it topically but generally it's reliable.

Another one here for Picture This (gave up on the freebies due to their sometimes somewhat random (mis)identification

Many thanks for the replies

Can I ask what you're planning to use the app for?

It was mainly to have a handy tool to use as a starting point. But it's true that I will need to make sure the app got it right anyway afterwards

I find posting in here is a good method

It sure is