Guide
How to identify plants by their leaves
Leaves are the most reliable year-round clue to a plant’s identity. Learn the four features that matter most, then let a photo do the rest.
Leaf shape
Overall outline is the first thing to note.
- Ovate (egg-shaped), lance-like, heart-shaped, or round
- Lobed (like an oak) or deeply divided
- Needle-like or scale-like (many conifers)
Margins and arrangement
- Margin: smooth (entire), toothed (serrated), or wavy
- Arrangement: opposite, alternate, or whorled on the stem
- Simple (one blade) vs compound (many leaflets)
Venation
Parallel veins usually indicate monocots such as grasses, lilies, and palms. Netted (reticulate) veins are typical of broadleaf dicots. Venation is a quick way to split confusing look-alikes.
Identify from a leaf photo
Place a single leaf on a plain background, photograph it in good light, and upload it. Our identifier reads shape, margin, and venation together to name the plant and flag whether it is toxic to pets.
Frequently asked questions
Get it on the go — the companion app
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