# Flora Incognita — identify flowers and trees

> AI-powered plant identification and nature observation app for research. (iPhone/iPad app by Patrick Maeder.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flora-incognita/id1297860122 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Patrick Maeder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1122594621)
- Category: Education, Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 566 App Store ratings · 341 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.9 · 29 MB
- Languages: American English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French (France) and 25 more
- Released: 2018-04-30
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flora-incognita/id1297860122/reviews.md

## What is Flora Incognita?

FLORA INCOGNITA - DISCOVER THE DIVERSITY OF NATURE

What's blooming? With the Flora Incognita app, this question is quickly answered. Take a picture of a plant, find out what it's called and learn everything you want to know with the help of a fact sheet. Highly precise algorithms based on artificial intelligence identify wild plants even when they are not (yet) in bloom!

In the Flora Incognita app you can easily view all your collected plant finds in a observation list. Maps show where you have found your plants. This way you can see how your knowledge about wild plants is growing.

But Flora Incognita is even more! The app is free of charge and without advertising, because it is part of a scientific research project that aims to improve nature conservation. The collected observations are used to answer scientific research questions that deal, for example, with the spread of invasive species or the effects of climate change on biotopes.

In regular stories, you will learn about news from the project, get insights into the scientific work or will be made curious about what is happening in nature right now.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE FLORA INCOGNITA?
- Identify wild plants simply by taking a photo with your smartphone
- Learn more about plant species with the help of extensive plant profiles
- Collect your findings in your observation list
- Become part of an innovative scientific community
- Share your findings on Twitter, Instagram & Co!

HOW GOOD IS FLORA INCOGNITA?
Species identification with Flora Incognita is based on Deep Learning algorithms that have an accuracy of well over 90%. It is important to take sharp and as close as possible pictures of plant parts such as flower, leaf, bark or fruit for a high identification accuracy.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROJECT?
Visit our website at www.floraincognita.com or follow us on social media. You can find us on X (@FloraIncognita2), Mastodon (@FloraIncognita@social.mpdl.mpg.de), Instagram (@flora.incognita) and Facebook (@flora.incognita).

IS THE APP REALLY FREE OF CHARGE AND ADVERTISING?
Yes. You can use Flora Incognita anytime, as long as you want. It is free to use, with no ads, no premium version and no subscription. But maybe you will enjoy searching and identifying plants so much that it will become a new hobby. We have received this feedback many times!

WHO DEVELOPED FLORA INCOGNITA?
The Flora Incognita app is developed by scientists from the Technical University of Ilmenau and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena. Its development was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety as well as the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation and the Foundation for Nature Conservation Thuringia. The project was awarded as an official project of the "UN Decade of Biodiversity" and won the Thuringian Research Award in 2020.

## Key features

- Identify plants with a photo
- Detailed plant fact sheets
- Observation list with maps
- AI-powered identification
- Contribute to scientific research
- Free and ad-free

## What do users think of Flora Incognita?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate identification
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🔍 Excellent plant information
- 💡 Contributes to scientific database
- 🆓 Completely free with no ads

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional misidentifications, especially for hybrid/cultivated plants
- 🌍 Limited to European/UK flora (some users outside this region)
- 📱 Requires internet connection for full functionality

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Occasional issues with photo uploads

**Most requested features**

- Offline mode for plant identification
- More comprehensive coverage of global flora
- Additional plant care/cultivation information

## Recent user reviews (10 of 341)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flora-incognita/id1297860122/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Super

*2026-08-12*

Спасибо огромное за ценную информацию
и приложение!!!

### 5/5 — Чудо

*2026-08-12*

Приложение очень крутое всем советую!!!

### 5/5 — Awesome!!

*2026-08-09, version 3.14*

Use it often on hikes and around my property.

### 3/5 — Средняя точность

*2026-08-08*

В моих случаях мало попаданий. Возможно ставлю сложные задачи. Редкости не узнает((

### 5/5 — Great app

*2026-08-03, version 3.14*

It’s fun

### 5/5 — Thank you

*2026-07-31, version 3.14*

Amazing

### 5/5 — Работает

*2026-07-29*

Определяет вид, но не сорт

### 5/5 — World-opening

*2026-07-19, version 3.14*

An amazing world-opening app that I wish I’d got sooner!

### 5/5 — Супер точно!

*2026-07-19*

Прекрасно работает определитель!!

### 5/5 — Top! Und dennoch viel Potenzial für einen Ausbau!

*2026-07-09*

Ich habe die App nun schon zwei Jahre und bin überrascht wie gut eine kostenlose App funktionieren kann wenn sie einen allgemeinen Nutzen bezweckt. Sie wird langsam, dafür stetig optimiert und verbessert. Großes Lob dafür! Jetzt, wo wieder viel im Garten gewerkelt und verschönert wird, ist mir ein Gedanke gekommen der sicherlich für viele Hobbygärtner und Newbie’s, früher oder später, zum Thema wird. Deshalb hier mal ein Anstoß an die Entwickler.
Es wäre eine tolle Erweiterung wenn man zu den Info‘s über die Pflanze auch etwas zur Pflege nachlesen könnte. Speziell in meinem Fall habe ich versucht raus zu finden wann, und vor allem wie, ich meine Pflanze am besten beschneide und pflege. Vielleicht wäre hier eine Implementierung kurzer Pflegehinweise möglich und sinnvoll.

Aber auch ohne solch eine Umsetzung eine wirklich tolle App! 👍

**Developer response:** 👍

## Frequently asked questions about Flora Incognita

### What does Flora Incognita do?

Flora Incognita allows you to identify wild plants by simply taking a photo with your smartphone. It then provides you with a fact sheet containing detailed information about the species. You can also track your plant findings on a map and contribute to scientific research.

### How accurate is the plant identification?

Species identification in Flora Incognita is based on Deep Learning algorithms with an accuracy of well over 90%. For optimal results, it's recommended to take sharp, close-up pictures of plant parts like flowers, leaves, bark, or fruits.

### Is Flora Incognita free to use?

Yes, Flora Incognita is completely free of charge and contains no advertising. It is part of a scientific research project and can be used for as long as you wish without any premium versions or subscriptions.

### Who developed Flora Incognita?

The Flora Incognita app is developed by scientists from the Technical University of Ilmenau and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena. Its development is supported by various German ministries and foundations focused on education and nature conservation.

### What are the benefits of using Flora Incognita?

Using Flora Incognita allows you to easily identify wild plants, learn about their characteristics, and keep a record of your discoveries. By contributing your observations, you also play a role in scientific research related to nature conservation, invasive species, and climate change.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.15 — 2026-08-21

3.15
- Species profiles: Content and details slightly expanded.
- Search & filters: Speeded up search and fixed errors with filters.
- Compatibility: Adapted to newer devices and operating systems.
- Camera & media: Improved camera and fixed errors during image import and export.

### 3.14 — 2026-03-24

Version 3.13.

* Offline Mode: Improved system stability for network-independent identification.
* Species Profiles: Expanded botanical details and characteristics.
* Bug Fixes: General performance improved and app stability optimized.

We wish you a relaxing holiday season and a happy New Year.

### 3.13.2 — 2026-02-23

Version 3.13.

* Offline Mode: Improved system stability for network-independent identification.
* Species Profiles: Expanded botanical details and characteristics.
* Bug Fixes: General performance improved and app stability optimized.

We wish you a relaxing holiday season and a happy New Year.

### 3.13.1 — 2026-02-17

Version 3.13.

* Offline Mode: Improved system stability for network-independent identification.
* Species Profiles: Expanded botanical details and characteristics.
* Bug Fixes: General performance improved and app stability optimized.

We wish you a relaxing holiday season and a happy New Year.

### 3.13 — 2025-12-24

Version 3.13.

* Offline Mode: Improved system stability for network-independent identification.
* Species Profiles: Expanded botanical details and characteristics.
* Bug Fixes: General performance improved and app stability optimized.

We wish you a relaxing holiday season and a happy New Year.

## Apps similar to Flora Incognita

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [PictureThis - Plant Identifier](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picturethis-plant-identifier/id1252497129) | 4.8 (1,109,528) | Free | Education |
| [PlantSnap - Plant Scanner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantsnap-plant-scanner/id1451054346) | 4.6 (68,169) | Free | Education |
| [Plant Identifier & Care: Ficus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plant-identifier-and-care-ficus/id1560965917) | 4.4 (6,982) | Free | Education |
| [Seek by iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seek-by-inaturalist/id1353224144) | 4.8 (30,887) | Free | Education |
| [Plantum - AI Plant Identifier](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantum-ai-plant-identifier/id1476047194) | 4.6 (118,692) | Free | Education |
| [Plant Identifier: Nature ID AI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plant-identifier-nature-id-ai/id6670337551) | 4.4 (19) | Free | Education |

## More apps by Patrick Maeder

- [Flora Capture](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flora-capture/id1131154997)
- [SmartPIV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartpiv/id1471308387)

All apps by Patrick Maeder: https://appshunter.io/developer/1122594621

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*