Herb Identification

How to Identify Herbs Manually

Want to know how to identify herbs without special knowledge? Most species can be identified by a few characteristics: leaf, stem, and scent. 

The following sections will explain the fundamentals of this process. There are also examples of some of the herbs and wild plants you may be likely to encounter on your hikes. 

Leaf Shape

The leaf is the first criterion to check. These are typical shapes found in most kitchen and garden plants:

• Lanceolate, long and narrow — Rosemary, tarragon.
• Ovate, egg-shaped — Basil, mint.
• Palmate, shaped like a hand — Hemp, hellebore.
• Linear, grass-like — Chives, lemongrass.

Start with a general outline, then consider other characteristics before settling on a name.

Leaf Edge and Surface

Edges and textures help to make herb identification by leaf more informative and the final results more confident. Smooth edges are typical of bay leaves and basil. Serrated edges with fine teeth are often found on mint and lemon balm. Lobed edges are typical of cilantro and parsley. 

Fluffy leaves most often point to sage and lamb's ear, while shiny leaves are typical of bay laurel or rosemary. When you make a photo for identification, hold the leaf up to the light to notice fine hairs and oil glands that are not immediately visible. 

Stem Structure

It usually indicates the family, which is another clue for an accurate herb plant identification. The main types are:

• Square stems — basil, spearmint, oregano, thyme, sage (mint family).
• Round stems — Parsley, cilantro, dill.
• Hollow stems — Chives, garlic chives (onion family).
• Hairy stems — Borage, comfrey.

Roll the stem between two fingers. This simple action helps to exclude many of the possible recognition options.

Scent

Smell is one of the most reliable cues for species ID. To identify what herb this is by smell alone, crush a leaf and sniff it. Basil has a sweet, clove-like aroma. Rosemary has a piney scent, and lavender is floral. 

Melissa smells lemony, as does lemon verbena, though verbena has a more intense scent. Mint and catnip look almost identical, but your nose will certainly distinguish them: mint has a bright, minty scent, while catnip has a more musty, herbaceous aroma. 

Poisonous Herbs That Look Like Edible Ones

Some look-alike herbs are toxic, and they can confuse even those who are familiar with plants. Foraging accidents usually come down to a missed scent check or stem identification. 

The table below shows the main edible plants, the dangerous "look-alikes", and how to distinguish one from the other.

If you're not 100% sure, don't eat it — a second photo of the stem or cut base can often help you correctly identify herbs by picture and distinguish them from poisonous ones. 

When to Use Botan Instead of Manual Identification

Manual checks work fine for plants that you already know. The process becomes more challenging with similar species, low-light conditions, or new plants. In such cases, our herb identifier can be helpful. 

Here are 5 reasons to use the app from Botan for plant identification purposes: 

• Speed. The scanner gives you an answer in 2-3 seconds, which is faster than checking a field book.
• Coverage. The detector knows thousands of culinary and medicinal herbs, including both edible and wild plants native to the region. 
• Safety. Botan detects toxic  "look-alikes," so you won't confuse parsley with hemlock, or wild garlic with lily of the valley.
• Care tips. Information on watering, lighting, sunlight, and harvesting is available immediately after identifying the species — you can act accordingly. 
• Plant journal. Every herb ID will be saved in your library for later, with notes, photos, and the date you found it.

For most checks, the app is faster than a field book and easier to carry on a walk.