How to use Foragely

Look around a yard, park, trail, or roadside and pick a plant you want to know more about.

Important: you never need to pull the plant up or dig for its roots. Most plants can be identified just fine while they are standing. Some plants are dangerous to touch, and some are protected, so keep your hands off anything you are unsure about.

On the Identify page, add photos of: the top of a leaf, the underside of a leaf, the stem, a flower or fruit, and the whole plant from a little distance back.

Why 3 or more? Each part is a separate clue. One leaf alone can look exactly like a dangerous lookalike, but a leaf plus a stem plus a flower together usually point to just one species. That is what raises your confidence score and, when it is earned, unlocks recipes.

You do NOT need a root photo. Digging up a plant you can't identify isn't safe.

In the notes box, write where you found it, how big it is, and anything you noticed — like a smell (only from a safe distance, never taste!).

If you are worried someone ate a plant and feels sick, stop and use the emergency help right away — Foragely will show Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US, 1-844-764-7669 in Canada) or 911.

The app checks your photos against expert-verified reference photos and shows you: the plant's common name, its Latin (scientific) name, a confidence bar, real photos to compare, and any dangerous lookalikes with how to tell them apart.

The confidence bar means: HIGH = the clues match strongly. MEDIUM = it looks like this plant, but check more. LOW = we can't be sure, so don't rely on it.

If the report says key parts are missing, it will list exactly which parts to photograph — always parts you can reach without digging or pulling.

Add those photos and identify again. More clues, better answer.

Foragely never says a plant is safe to eat from photos. Recipes and nutrition only unlock with a HIGH-confidence ID, an edible-with-caution plant, and at least 3 photos of 3 different parts.

Even then: confirm in person with an experienced local forager before eating any wild plant. Wild carrot has a deadly twin — photos alone can't clear a plant.

Foragely never identifies mushrooms. No app should.

On a report you like, press Save to add it to My plant library in the Journal tab. Your photos and the full identification stay saved privately so you can look back and learn.

In the Field journal you can also add sightings with notes, a map pin, photos, and harvest reminders.

The Calendar tab shows what is in season to forage each month in your region (US, Southwest US, or UK), with harvest parts and which plants are traditionally used for teas, tinctures, and salves.

It's a great way to plan a walk: check the month, pick a plant, and go look for it.

Past the safety gate, reports include recipe links, nutrition, and flavor ideas. Other foragers can share how they cook a plant in the report's community comments — remember, community ideas are unverified.

Free accounts get 3 identifications per month; Plus gives unlimited identifications, recipes, and the 7-day trial. Ready when you are!