Identify from a photo
Get suggestions for what a plant might be from a single photo, taken in the app or chosen from your library.
Plant identification for Minnesota
Get to know the plants of Minnesota.
Minneflora helps you put a name to the plants around you, in your yard, along the trail, or at the edge of the lake. Learn which ones are native to Minnesota and the part they play in the local landscape.
Top suggestionsExample
- Wild bergamotMonarda fistulosa Native
- Spotted beebalmMonarda punctata Native
- Scarlet beebalmMonarda didyma Non-native
Why Minneflora
Noticing comes first.
Minnesota is home to a remarkable range of plant life, from tallgrass prairie in the south and west to the boreal forests of the north. Most of us walk past it every day without knowing what we're looking at.
Minneflora was built to help with that, one plant at a time. Take a photo, see what it might be, and learn a little about it: what it's called, whether it's native here, and how it fits into the local ecosystem.
Native plants feed pollinators, shelter birds and other wildlife, hold soil in place, and give each corner of the state its character. Learning their names is a good first step toward appreciating them.
You don't need to become a botanist. The goal is simply to make the plants around you a little more familiar.
How it works
From photo to plant name in three steps.
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Take or choose a photo
Photograph a flower, leaf, or whole plant in the app, or pick a photo you've already taken.
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Compare the suggestions
Minneflora lists the plants your photo most likely shows, closest match first, so you can compare and decide what looks right.
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Learn and keep track
Read about each plant, see its status in Minnesota, and find it again later in your identification history.
In the app
What you can do with Minneflora
A small set of tools, focused on helping you learn what grows around you.
Learn about each plant
See common and scientific names, the plant's family, and a short description to help you get to know it.
Check its Minnesota status
Find out whether a plant is native to Minnesota, and whether it's considered invasive or a species of conservation concern here.
- Native
- Non-native
- Invasive
- Special concern
- Threatened
- Endangered
Keep a history
Your identifications are saved with the date and, if you choose to share your location, where you found the plant.
Build your native plant log
Browse a list of plants native to Minnesota and watch it fill in as you find and identify them.
Who it's for
For anyone who's ever wondered, "What is that?"
No background in botany needed. Just curiosity and a phone.
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Curious beginners
You don't need to know a sedge from a rush. Start with a photo and learn as you go.
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Gardeners
Find out what's coming up in your beds and borders, and which of those plants are native to Minnesota.
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Hikers and paddlers
Put names to the wildflowers, shrubs, and trees you pass on the trail or along the shoreline.
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Nature lovers everywhere in between
Learning what grows around you is a simple way to feel more connected to the place you live.
A note on accuracy
A helpful guide, not the final word.
Photo identification is a good starting point, but it isn't perfect. Lighting, angle, season, and look-alike species can all lead to a wrong suggestion, and plant details can occasionally be incomplete or out of date.
- Treat suggestions as a starting point, and compare a few features before deciding.
- Never eat a plant, or use it as medicine, based on an app's identification.
- For questions about invasive or regulated plants, check with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Minneflora only for Minnesota?
Minneflora is built with Minnesota in mind. Plant status (native, invasive, and so on) describes the plant's status in Minnesota, and the native plant log focuses on Minnesota species. You can photograph plants anywhere, but the information is most useful here.
Do I need an account?
Yes. You'll sign up with an email address before identifying plants, so your identifications can be connected to you.
How accurate are the identifications?
It varies. Clear, close photos of distinctive features like flowers, leaves, or bark usually give better results. Minneflora shows several suggestions so you can compare them, and we encourage double-checking before relying on any identification.
Does Minneflora use my location?
Only if you allow it. When you submit a photo, the app can include your device's location to help narrow down suggestions and to record where you found the plant. You can decline location access and still identify plants.
What happens to my photos?
Photos you submit are sent to our servers and to our plant identification provider to generate suggestions, and they're stored with your identification. We don't sell your information or use it for advertising. Our Privacy Policy explains the details.
How do I delete my account?
In the app, go to Settings → Delete account. If you subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, deleting your account doesn't cancel that subscription, so cancel it in your store account too. See the Privacy Policy for what's removed.
Contact
Say hello.
Questions, feedback, or a plant we got wrong? We'd love to hear from you.
contact@minneflora.com