AI-Powered Seed Species Recognition

Identify Any Seed and Get Its Full Botanical and Growing Profile

Upload any seed photo and get the species ID, the plant it produces, germination and growing guide, and culinary, medicinal, and ecological uses.

Identify a Seed

Flat lay of a variety of seeds on a white surface showing different shapes, sizes, and colours

AI Seed Identifier

Upload any photo of a seed and instantly identify the species. Get a full botanical profile: physical characteristics, plant profile, germination guide, growing conditions, culinary and medicinal uses, and fascinating seed facts.

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Upload a seed photo

Works best with a clear close-up photo of the seed on a plain background with good lighting. Including multiple seeds or different angles improves accuracy.

or drag and drop an image here

Cost per analysis

Results

AI Seed Identifier

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AI Seed Identifier

Upload a photo on the left and click analyse to see the results.

Common name, scientific name, plant family, and native range identification
Seed physical characteristics: size, shape, colour, texture, and dispersal mechanism
Plant profile: mature height, spread, leaves, flowers, fruit, and growth rate
Germination guide: temperature, depth, stratification, scarification, and timing
Soil, light, water, and hardiness zone requirements
Culinary, medicinal, ornamental, and ecological uses

Close-up macro photograph of a collection of sunflower seeds showing their distinctive striped grey and black patterns

Precise Species Identification from Any Seed Photo

Identify a Seed

Precise Species Identification from Any Seed Photo

Upload any clear photo of a seed and the AI identifies the species, providing the common name, scientific name, botanical family, plant type, native range, and seed category (food crop, garden flower, vegetable, herb, tree, weed, medicinal plant, etc.). Every result includes a confidence rating with a note on the specific physical features used for identification. When the exact species cannot be confirmed, the AI identifies the most likely genus or family and explains what can and cannot be determined.

Identify a Seed

Side-by-side photo of bean seeds and the mature bean plant in flower showing the connection between seed and plant

Full Physical Profile and Plant Description

See Plant Profile

Full Physical Profile and Plant Description

Every result includes a complete physical seed profile: size in mm, shape, colour and any markings, seed coat texture (smooth, ribbed, hairy, winged), cotyledon count (monocot or dicot), how the seed is naturally dispersed, and the most distinctive identifying visual features as badge tags. The plant profile section then covers the mature plant's height, spread, leaf and flower description, fruit or pod type, root system, growth rate, and lifespan.

See Plant Profile

Seeds germinating in a seed tray with small green seedlings emerging from dark compost under a grow light

Germination Guide and Growing Conditions

See Growing Guide

Germination Guide and Growing Conditions

Every result includes a complete germination and growing guide: optimal soil temperature for germination, days to germination, sowing depth, whether to direct sow or start indoors, whether the seed needs scarification (nicking or soaking the hard seed coat) or cold stratification to break dormancy, preferred soil type and pH, light and water requirements, USDA hardiness zone range, recommended plant spacing, and the time from sowing to first harvest or flowering.

See Growing Guide

How It Works

How to Identify a Seed with AI

Upload a Seed Photo

Upload any clear close-up photo of a seed or seeds on a plain background with good lighting. Including multiple seeds or different angles improves identification accuracy.

AI Identifies the Species

The AI analyses the seed's size, shape, colour, surface texture, markings, hilum scar, and any wings or appendages to identify the species with a confidence rating.

Get the Full Botanical Profile

Receive a complete profile covering species identification, physical characteristics, plant profile, germination and growing guide, uses and applications, and fascinating seed facts.

Identify a Seed

Who Uses It

Use Case

Home Gardeners

Found unlabelled seeds in a packet, inherited seeds from a friend, or collected seeds from a plant and not sure what they are? Upload a photo and get the species identification, the full growing guide, and the germination requirements so you can start them correctly. The growing guide covers everything from sowing depth and soil temperature to spacing and time to first harvest or bloom.

Forager crouching to collect seeds from a wildflower beside a forest path

Use Case

Foragers and Naturalists

Found interesting seeds while foraging, hiking, or exploring and want to know what plant they come from and whether they are safe, edible, or useful? Upload a photo and get the species identification alongside the culinary and medicinal uses section and any toxic or invasive status notes, so you can make an informed decision before using or planting anything collected from the wild.

Farmer examining a handful of grain seeds in a field with a crop growing in the background

Use Case

Farmers and Growers

Need to identify an unfamiliar seed in a batch, confirm a variety before planting, or quickly look up the germination temperature and spacing requirements for a new crop? Upload a photo and get the species confirmation alongside the full commercial growing profile: germination requirements, soil and climate suitability, USDA hardiness zones, and time to harvest.

Biology student examining seed samples under a magnifying glass in a bright laboratory setting

Use Case

Students and Educators

Teaching or studying botany, horticulture, agriculture, or plant biology? Upload seed images from lab samples, fieldwork, or textbooks and get a structured botanical profile covering botanical classification, seed morphology (shape, coat, cotyledon count, dispersal mechanism), the mature plant, germination biology, and uses. Every result provides the scientific vocabulary and structured information needed for academic work.

Identify a Seed

Deep Dive

Major Seed Categories

Seeds are among the most diverse and remarkable structures in the plant kingdom, ranging from dust-like orchid seeds weighing just a few micrograms to the double coconut weighing up to 25 kg. Understanding the major seed categories helps you interpret any identification result and appreciate the extraordinary variety of plant reproduction strategies.

Wide photo collage of six seed types: a sunflower seed, a maple samara winged seed, a coconut, a strawberry with surface seeds, a bean pod, and tiny poppy seeds

Food Crop Seeds

Food crop seeds are among the most economically important objects in human civilisation, forming the foundation of agriculture and global food security. They include the seeds of cereal grasses (wheat, rice, maize, barley, oats, millet, sorghum), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, soybeans), oilseeds (sunflower, rapeseed, flaxseed, sesame, pumpkin), and vegetables. Many food crop seeds have been selectively bred over thousands of years to produce larger, more productive, or more nutritious variants than their wild ancestors. The diversity of food crop seeds is actively preserved in seed banks worldwide, with the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway holding over 1.3 million seed samples as an insurance policy against agricultural catastrophe.

ExamplesWheat, rice, maize, sunflower, soybean, bean, lentil, pumpkin, sesame, flaxseed

Key traitProduced specifically for human or animal nutritional use; often high in protein, carbohydrate, or oil

Garden Flower and Ornamental Seeds

Ornamental garden seeds are grown primarily for their visual beauty and include both annual flowers (which complete their life cycle in one growing season and must be resown each year) and perennial flowers (which return year after year from the same root system). Common annual ornamentals include marigold, zinnia, nasturtium, cosmos, and sweet pea. Common perennial ornamentals include echinacea, lavender, foxglove, hollyhock, and aquilegia. Many ornamental seeds have specific germination requirements such as light (surface sowing), darkness, or cold stratification, and getting these right is the difference between successful germination and failure. Many ornamental seeds are also edible or medicinal, blurring the line between ornamental and functional gardening.

ExamplesMarigold, zinnia, cosmos, nasturtium, sweet pea, lavender, echinacea, foxglove, aquilegia, hollyhock

Key traitGrown primarily for visual appeal; many are also beneficial to pollinators and wildlife

Herb and Spice Seeds

Many culinary herbs and spices are the seeds of plants rather than their leaves: coriander, cumin, fennel, caraway, dill, anise, fenugreek, mustard, and poppy are all seeds used directly as spice or seasoning. Others such as basil, parsley, and chive are grown from seed but harvested for their leaves. Herb seeds are generally small, often aromatic due to essential oil content, and may require specific temperature or light conditions to germinate reliably. Some herb seeds are short-lived and lose viability quickly (parsley, chive, onion), while others (basil, tomato) retain viability for several years when stored correctly in cool, dry, dark conditions.

ExamplesCoriander, cumin, fennel, dill, caraway, mustard, fenugreek, poppy, basil, parsley, dill

Key traitAromatic due to essential oil content; used directly as spice or as the starting point for leaf herb plants

Tree and Shrub Seeds

Tree and shrub seeds are among the most varied seed types, ranging from tiny dust-like seeds (like those of birch, willow, and orchid trees) to large nuts (acorn, walnut, chestnut, horse chestnut) and elaborate winged structures (maple samara, ash key, lime bract). Many tree seeds require cold stratification, mimicking the natural winter cold period they would experience in the ground before spring germination. Others have hard seed coats that require scarification or the action of passing through an animal's digestive system before they will germinate. Growing trees from seed is a slow process compared to cuttings or grafting, but it produces genetically diverse individuals and is deeply rewarding for patient growers.

ExamplesAcorn, walnut, chestnut, maple samara, ash key, pine nut, sycamore, horse chestnut, birch, conker

Key traitOften require cold stratification or scarification; may take months to germinate and years to establish

Wildflower and Meadow Seeds

Wildflower seeds are the seeds of native or naturalised flowering plants that grow in meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, and open grasslands. They are ecologically critical as the food and habitat source for pollinators, birds, and small mammals, and wildflower meadow restoration has become a key conservation tool in many countries. Many wildflower seeds have evolved sophisticated dormancy mechanisms that prevent premature germination, requiring specific combinations of temperature, moisture, and light to break dormancy. Wildflower seed mixes are available for most climate zones and habitat types, and growing wildflowers from seed is one of the most cost-effective ways to create a biodiverse garden or restorations site.

ExamplesCornflower, poppy, ox-eye daisy, foxglove, teasel, knapweed, wild carrot, yarrow, clover, ragged robin

Key traitCritical for pollinators and biodiversity; often have complex dormancy requirements adapted to natural conditions

Medicinal and Herbal Seeds

Many plants have significant evidence-based or traditional medicinal properties, and their seeds are collected, stored, and grown specifically for medicinal production. Echinacea, valerian, milk thistle, evening primrose, black seed (Nigella sativa), borage, and chamomile are among the most widely grown medicinal seeds in the temperate world. In tropical and subtropical regions, moringa, neem, and bitter melon seeds have well-documented medicinal applications. Medicinal plant cultivation is growing rapidly as demand increases for natural health products, and many medicinal seeds can be grown successfully in home gardens and allotments. Caution is always required with medicinal plants: some potent medicinal species are toxic at high doses or interact with medications.

ExamplesEchinacea, milk thistle, valerian, evening primrose, black seed (Nigella), borage, chamomile, moringa

Key traitGrown for their active compounds; many are also ornamental garden plants that serve dual decorative and medicinal purposes

Note: the boundaries between seed categories are fluid. Many seeds are simultaneously food crops, ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, and wildlife attractors. The AI identifies seeds from all major categories worldwide.

Benefits

Why Use It

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Instant Species Identification

Identify any seed by common name, scientific name, botanical family, and seed category from a single photo, whether found in a packet, in the wild, or collected from a garden plant.

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Complete Growing Guide

Get the full germination and growing guide: soil temperature, sowing depth, stratification and scarification requirements, light and water needs, hardiness zone, spacing, and time to harvest or bloom.

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Culinary, Medicinal, and Ecological Uses

Discover every use of the seed and plant: edible parts and cooking applications, traditional and evidence-based medicinal uses, ornamental value, pollinator support, and any toxicity or invasive status.

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Physical and Botanical Detail

Get the full seed morphology: size, shape, colour and markings, coat texture, dispersal mechanism, cotyledon count, and the mature plant profile covering height, spread, leaves, flowers, and root system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the AI Seed Identifier work?

You upload any photo of a seed or seeds and the AI analyses the size, shape, colour and markings, seed coat texture, hilum scar, and any appendages such as wings or hairs to identify the species. Every result includes a confidence rating and a note on the specific physical features used, along with the full botanical profile, germination guide, and uses.

What types of seeds can it identify?

The identifier covers seeds from all major plant categories: food crops, vegetables, garden flowers, wildflowers, herbs and spices, trees and shrubs, and medicinal plants. It works with seeds from temperate, tropical, subtropical, and arid regions worldwide.

What photo gives the best result?

A clear close-up photograph of the seed on a plain white or contrasting background with good even lighting gives the best results. Including multiple seeds in the frame helps the AI assess typical size and shape variation. Macro mode on a smartphone or camera is ideal for small seeds. Including both sides of the seed where they differ significantly also helps.

Can it identify seeds that require special germination treatment?

Yes. The germination guide in every result covers whether the seed needs scarification (breaking or nicking the seed coat to allow moisture in), cold stratification (a period of cold and moist conditions to simulate winter and break dormancy), light to germinate (surface sowing), or darkness. These requirements are specified clearly so you know exactly what the seed needs before attempting to grow it.

Can it tell me if a seed is edible or toxic?

Yes. The uses section of every result covers culinary uses and edible parts where applicable, and includes a specific note on any toxicity to humans, pets, or livestock. For foragers and anyone collecting seeds from the wild, always cross-reference identification results with multiple sources before consuming any plant material.

Can it identify seeds collected from my garden plants?

Yes. Seeds collected from garden plants are one of the most common use cases. Upload a clear photo of the collected seed and the AI will identify the species, confirm whether it is the same plant you collected it from if the description matches, and give you the full growing guide to successfully save and sow it next season.

Does it work for very small seeds like orchid or poppy seeds?

Very small seeds are more challenging to identify from photos due to the limited detail visible. For tiny seeds, a macro photograph that fills the frame as much as possible and includes multiple seeds for size and shape reference gives the best results. The AI will identify the most likely species or genus and note when the identification is limited by the seed size.

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Identify Any Seed Instantly

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Disclaimer: This tool uses generative AI technology which may produce content that resembles copyrighted materials or that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date. It is provided for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended for illegal activities or to replace professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users are solely responsible for how they use the generated content. If you plan to use AI-generated content commercially or publicly, we strongly recommend reviewing it for potential copyright issues and obtaining proper permissions where necessary. We accept no liability for copyright infringement or any other consequences resulting from the use of content generated by this tool.