All Plant Comparison / ID Guides

We currently have a total of 169 comparison guides, with 102 completed and published, and 67 incomplete guides under construction.

Complete / Published Guides

Date started is the date we started work on the ID guide and published an incomplete or partial form of it, not necessarily when it was completed or publicized. Date updated is when we last published a major update to the guide.

GuideDate Started↓Date Updated
Field Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) vs. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)Mar 08, 2023Mar 08, 2023
Virginia Creeper (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus) vs. Five-Fingered Aralia (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus)Feb 24, 2023Feb 24, 2023
Norway Spruce (Picea orientalis) vs. Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis)Jan 16, 2023Jan 16, 2023
Loblolly Pine (Pinus elliottii) vs. Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)Jan 08, 2023Jan 24, 2023
Shortleaf Pine (Pinus strobus) vs. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)Jan 04, 2023Jan 05, 2023
Pitch Pine (Pinus taeda) vs. Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)Jan 03, 2023Feb 04, 2023
Shortleaf Pine (Pinus taeda) vs. Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)Jan 02, 2023Jan 07, 2023
Loblolly Pine (Pinus strobus) vs. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)Jan 02, 2023Jan 08, 2023
Early Wildrye (Elymus riparius) vs. Riverbank Wildrye (Elymus riparius)Dec 31, 2022Dec 31, 2022
Canada Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus) vs. Southeastern Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus)Dec 28, 2022Jan 30, 2023
Canada Wildrye (Elymus riparius) vs. Riverbank Wildrye (Elymus riparius)Dec 15, 2022Feb 13, 2023
Early Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus) vs. Southeastern Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus)Dec 08, 2022Dec 27, 2022
Wingstem (Verbesina occidentalis) vs. Yellow Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis)Nov 30, 2022Nov 30, 2022
Riverbank Wildrye (Elymus villosus) vs. Silky Wild Rye (Elymus villosus)Nov 26, 2022Dec 29, 2022
Purpletop (Sorghum halepense) vs. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)Nov 13, 2022Nov 16, 2022
Rhomboid Mercury (Acalypha australis) vs. Asian Copperleaf (Acalypha australis)Jul 08, 2022Feb 02, 2023
White Avens (Geum vernum) vs. Spring Avens (Geum vernum)Jun 18, 2022Jul 01, 2022
Annual Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) vs. Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)Jun 17, 2022Jun 17, 2022
Clustered Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula smallii) vs. Small's Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula smallii)May 31, 2022May 31, 2022
Canadian Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula smallii) vs. Small's Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula smallii)May 08, 2022May 31, 2022
Maryland Sanicle (Sanicula odorata) vs. Clustered Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula odorata)May 06, 2022May 31, 2022
Canadian Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula trifoliata) vs. Largefruit Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula trifoliata)May 06, 2022May 06, 2022
Canadian Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula odorata) vs. Clustered Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula odorata)May 06, 2022May 09, 2022
Canadian Blacksnakeroot (Sanicula marilandica) vs. Maryland Sanicle (Sanicula marilandica)May 06, 2022May 06, 2022
Late Boneset (Eupatorium altissimum) vs. Tall Thoroughwort (Eupatorium altissimum)Nov 06, 2021Aug 17, 2022
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) vs. Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)Oct 05, 2021Oct 05, 2021
Common Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) vs. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)Oct 04, 2021Oct 05, 2021
Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans) vs. Sensitive Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)Sep 20, 2021Sep 30, 2021
Shortleaf Pine (Pinus virginiana) vs. Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)Jan 27, 2021Jan 02, 2023
American Holly (Ilex aquifolium) vs. European Holly (Ilex aquifolium)Jan 19, 2021Jan 26, 2021
Water Oak (Quercus phellos) vs. Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)Jan 11, 2021Aug 25, 2022
Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) vs. Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)Jan 06, 2021Jan 06, 2021
Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana) vs. Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)Dec 21, 2020Dec 22, 2020
Chestnut Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) vs. Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)Dec 21, 2020Jan 05, 2021
Lemon Balm (Nepeta cataria) vs. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)Dec 17, 2020Dec 17, 2020
Bear Oak (Quercus marilandica) vs. Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)Oct 20, 2020Oct 20, 2020
Redstar (Ipomoea hederifolia) vs. Scarlet Creeper (Ipomoea hederifolia)Oct 14, 2020Oct 16, 2020
Bear Oak (Quercus velutina) vs. Black Oak (Quercus velutina)Oct 01, 2020Oct 01, 2020
Blackjack Oak (Quercus nigra) vs. Water Oak (Quercus nigra)Oct 01, 2020Oct 01, 2020
Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) vs. Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)Sep 21, 2020Jun 16, 2022
Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) vs. Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)Sep 21, 2020Apr 23, 2021
Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) vs. Trumpetweed (Eutrochium fistulosum)Sep 19, 2020Sep 19, 2020
Trumpetweed (Eutrochium maculatum) vs. Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)Sep 19, 2020Sep 25, 2020
Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) vs. Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)Sep 19, 2020Sep 21, 2020
Common Hop (Humulus japonicus) vs. Japanese Hop (Humulus japonicus)Sep 16, 2020Sep 16, 2020
Atlantic White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) vs. Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)Sep 01, 2020Mar 30, 2022
Atlantic White Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) vs. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)Sep 01, 2020Sep 01, 2020
Eastern Redcedar (Thuja occidentalis) vs. Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)Sep 01, 2020Sep 01, 2020
White Oak (Quercus bicolor) vs. Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)Aug 31, 2020Aug 31, 2020
American Sycamore (Platanus ×hispanica) vs. London Planetree (Platanus ×hispanica)Jul 24, 2020Jul 24, 2020
Swamp White Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) vs. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)Jul 01, 2020Mar 03, 2022
Smooth Sumac (Rhus typhina) vs. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)Jun 28, 2020Sep 23, 2021
Northern Red Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) vs. Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)Mar 04, 2020Feb 15, 2021
American Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) vs. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)Feb 25, 2020Jul 25, 2020
Paper Birch (Betula pendula) vs. European White Birch (Betula pendula)Feb 16, 2020Jul 28, 2020
Gray Birch (Betula pendula) vs. European White Birch (Betula pendula)Feb 16, 2020Jul 25, 2020
Paper Birch (Betula cordifolia) vs. Mountain Paper Birch (Betula cordifolia)Feb 11, 2020Jul 24, 2020
Gray Birch (Betula papyrifera) vs. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)Feb 02, 2020Dec 15, 2021
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) vs. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)Jan 16, 2020Jan 16, 2020
White Spruce (Abies balsamea) vs. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)Dec 29, 2019Dec 29, 2019
White Spruce (Picea abies) vs. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)Dec 17, 2019Jul 24, 2020
Red Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) vs. Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)Dec 05, 2019Apr 28, 2021
Norway Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) vs. Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)Dec 05, 2019Jul 23, 2020
Sugar Maple (Acer nigrum) vs. Black Maple (Acer nigrum)Dec 05, 2019Dec 06, 2019
Balsam Fir (Picea mariana) vs. Black Spruce (Picea mariana)Dec 03, 2019Nov 01, 2021
Eastern White Pine (Pinus resinosa) vs. Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)Dec 01, 2019Dec 17, 2021
Eastern Hemlock (Picea abies) vs. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)Dec 01, 2019Dec 29, 2019
Eastern Hemlock (Abies balsamea) vs. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)Dec 01, 2019Jul 28, 2020
White Spruce (Picea rubens) vs. Red Spruce (Picea rubens)Dec 01, 2019Dec 29, 2019
White Ash (Fraxinus nigra) vs. Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)Nov 24, 2019Nov 24, 2019
Black Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) vs. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)Nov 24, 2019Mar 24, 2021
White Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) vs. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)Nov 22, 2019Jun 23, 2020
Red Spruce (Picea abies) vs. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)Nov 20, 2019Dec 29, 2019
White Spruce (Picea mariana) vs. Black Spruce (Picea mariana)Nov 19, 2019Feb 27, 2022
Sweet Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) vs. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)Nov 10, 2019Nov 11, 2019
Red Mulberry (Morus alba) vs. White Mulberry (Morus alba)Nov 07, 2019Apr 04, 2021
Northern Red Oak (Quercus palustris) vs. Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)Nov 06, 2019Jul 30, 2020
Scarlet Oak (Quercus velutina) vs. Black Oak (Quercus velutina)Nov 06, 2019Mar 31, 2023
Northern Red Oak (Quercus coccinea) vs. Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)Nov 06, 2019Nov 06, 2019
Pin Oak (Quercus coccinea) vs. Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)Nov 06, 2019Oct 18, 2022
Pitch Pine (Pinus strobus) vs. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)Nov 01, 2019Nov 01, 2019
Red Pine (Pinus sylvestris) vs. Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)Nov 01, 2019Dec 20, 2021
Greater Celandine (Stylophorum diphyllum) vs. Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)Oct 31, 2019May 24, 2021
Eastern Black Walnut (Ailanthus altissima) vs. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)Oct 31, 2019Oct 31, 2019
Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans cinerea) vs. Butternut (Juglans cinerea)Oct 31, 2019Jul 28, 2020
Tree of Heaven (Rhus typhina) vs. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)Oct 31, 2019Sep 23, 2021
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) vs. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)Oct 30, 2019Apr 20, 2020
Red Maple (Acer saccharinum) vs. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)Oct 23, 2019Dec 29, 2019
Silver Maple (Acer saccharum) vs. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)Oct 23, 2019Oct 23, 2019
Red Maple (Acer spicatum) vs. Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum)Oct 23, 2019Dec 04, 2019
Norway Maple (Acer rubrum) vs. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)Oct 23, 2019Oct 25, 2019
White Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) vs. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)Oct 20, 2019Jul 24, 2020
Pale Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens capensis) vs. Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)Oct 20, 2019Oct 26, 2021
American Beech (Fagus sylvatica) vs. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)Oct 20, 2019Oct 29, 2019
Eastern Poison Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) vs. Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)Oct 19, 2019Dec 29, 2019
Box Elder (Toxicodendron radicans) vs. Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)Oct 19, 2019Oct 21, 2019
Eastern Poison Ivy (Rhus aromatica) vs. Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)Oct 19, 2019Oct 29, 2019
Northern Red Oak (Quercus velutina) vs. Black Oak (Quercus velutina)Oct 18, 2019Jan 23, 2021
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium serotinum) vs. Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)Oct 18, 2019Oct 29, 2019
Norway Maple (Acer saccharum) vs. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)Oct 17, 2019Jan 20, 2021
Rhomboid Mercury (Acalypha virginica) vs. Virginia Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha virginica)Oct 16, 2019Jul 11, 2022
Red Maple (Acer saccharum) vs. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)Oct 15, 2019Oct 23, 2019

Incomplete / Unpublished Guides

These guides are incomplete and under construction, and are more likely to have errors in them. Use them at your own risk; when in doubt double-check other sources before relying on them for definitive ID.

Date started is the date we started work on the ID guide and published an incomplete or partial form of it, not necessarily when it was completed or publicized. Date updated is when we last published a major update to the guide.

GuideDate Started↓Date Updated
Honeylocust (Robinia pseudoacacia) vs. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)Mar 31, 2023Mar 31, 2023
Black Locust (Robinia hispida) vs. Bristly Locust (Robinia hispida)Mar 30, 2023Mar 30, 2023
Pond Pine (Pinus taeda) vs. Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)Feb 03, 2023Feb 03, 2023
Virginia Pine (Pinus banksiana) vs. Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)Jan 02, 2023Jan 02, 2023
Scarlet Oak (Quercus shumardii) vs. Shumard's Oak (Quercus shumardii)Dec 27, 2022Dec 27, 2022
Canada Wildrye (Elymus villosus) vs. Silky Wild Rye (Elymus villosus)Dec 13, 2022Dec 13, 2022
Virginia Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus) vs. Southeastern Wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus)Dec 08, 2022Dec 18, 2022
Early Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) vs. Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus)Nov 28, 2022Dec 22, 2022
Canada Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) vs. Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus)Nov 26, 2022Nov 26, 2022
Swamp Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) vs. Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)Nov 21, 2022Nov 21, 2022
Broomsedge Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) vs. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)Nov 04, 2022Nov 04, 2022
Longleaf Pine (Pinus elliottii) vs. Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)Oct 31, 2022Oct 31, 2022
Rhomboid Mercury (Acalypha gracilens) vs. Slender Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha gracilens)Jul 11, 2022Jul 11, 2022
Virginia Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha gracilens) vs. Slender Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha gracilens)Jul 11, 2022Jul 11, 2022
Tall Blue Lettuce (Lactuca floridana) vs. Woodland Lettuce (Lactuca floridana)Jul 06, 2022Jul 06, 2022
Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium steelei) vs. Appalachian Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium steelei)Jul 05, 2022Jan 01, 2023
Early Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum pubescens) vs. King of the Meadow (Thalictrum pubescens)Jul 02, 2022Jul 02, 2022
King of the Meadow (Thalictrum revolutum) vs. Waxyleaf Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum revolutum)Jul 02, 2022Jul 02, 2022
White Avens (Geum virginianum) vs. Cream Avens (Geum virginianum)Jul 01, 2022Jul 01, 2022
White Avens (Geum laciniatum) vs. Rough Avens (Geum laciniatum)Jun 18, 2022Jun 18, 2022
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) vs. Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)Jun 17, 2022Jun 17, 2022
Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron pulchellus) vs. Robin's Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus)Jun 17, 2022Jun 17, 2022
Honewort (Cryptotaenia japonica) vs. Japanese Honewort (Cryptotaenia japonica)May 06, 2022May 06, 2022
Austrian Pine (Pinus resinosa) vs. Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)Dec 22, 2021Dec 22, 2021
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) vs. Purplestem aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)Nov 30, 2021Nov 30, 2021
Common Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) vs. Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)Sep 22, 2021Sep 22, 2021
Small-Flowered Buttercup (Ranunculus allegheniensis) vs. Allegheny Mountain buttercup (Ranunculus allegheniensis)May 27, 2021May 27, 2021
Small-Flowered Buttercup (Ranunculus micranthus) vs. Rock Buttercup (Ranunculus micranthus)May 27, 2021May 27, 2021
Golden Alexanders (Thaspium trifoliatum) vs. Meadow Parsnip (Thaspium trifoliatum)May 06, 2021May 06, 2021
Wild Parsnip (Zizia aurea) vs. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)May 05, 2021May 05, 2021
Heart-Leaf Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) vs. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)May 05, 2021May 05, 2021
Common Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum nutans) vs. Drooping Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum nutans)Apr 19, 2021Apr 19, 2021
Scarlet Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) vs. Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)Feb 15, 2021Feb 15, 2021
Laurel Oak (Quercus hemisphaerica) vs. Darlington Oak (Quercus hemisphaerica)Feb 05, 2021Feb 05, 2021
Virginia Pine (Pinus pungens) vs. Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens)Jan 28, 2021Jan 28, 2021
American Basswood (Tilia cordata) vs. Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata)Jan 25, 2021Jan 25, 2021
English Ivy (Hedera hibernica) vs. Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica)Jan 22, 2021Jan 22, 2021
European Holly (Ilex cornuta) vs. Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)Jan 20, 2021Jan 23, 2021
Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides) vs. Dwarf Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides)Jan 06, 2021Jan 06, 2021
Northern Red Oak (Quercus shumardii) vs. Shumard's Oak (Quercus shumardii)Oct 05, 2020Oct 05, 2020
Trumpetweed (Eutrochium purpureum) vs. Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)Sep 21, 2020Sep 21, 2020
Southern Red Oak (Quercus pagoda) vs. Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)Sep 11, 2020Sep 11, 2020
Overcup Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) vs. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)Aug 28, 2020Oct 01, 2020
White Snakeroot (Boehmeria cylindrica) vs. Smallspike False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)Jul 16, 2020Jul 16, 2020
Siberian Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) vs. Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)Jun 26, 2020Jun 26, 2020
Northern Red Oak (Quercus falcata) vs. Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)Jun 19, 2020Aug 23, 2022
Honewort (Aegopodium podagraria) vs. Bishop's Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)Jun 12, 2020Jun 12, 2020
Sassafras (Lindera benzoin) vs. Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)Jun 10, 2020Jun 10, 2020
Engelmann Spruce (Picea pungens) vs. Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)Apr 13, 2020Apr 13, 2020
Pitch Pine (Pinus pungens) vs. Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens)Mar 06, 2020Mar 06, 2020
Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) vs. Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)Mar 06, 2020Mar 06, 2020
Tall Blue Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) vs. Canada Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)Mar 02, 2020Mar 02, 2020
Gray Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) vs. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)Feb 20, 2020Feb 20, 2020
White Oak (Quercus stellata) vs. Post Oak (Quercus stellata)Jan 30, 2020Oct 19, 2020
Red Spruce (Picea mariana) vs. Black Spruce (Picea mariana)Nov 29, 2019Nov 29, 2019
White Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) vs. Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata)Nov 22, 2019Nov 22, 2019
White Mulberry (Fatoua villosa) vs. Hairy Crabweed (Fatoua villosa)Nov 14, 2019Nov 14, 2019
River Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) vs. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)Nov 11, 2019Dec 10, 2019
White Snakeroot (Conoclinium coelestinum) vs. Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)Nov 08, 2019Sep 29, 2021
Common Pear (Pyrus calleryana) vs. Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)Nov 07, 2019Jul 15, 2020
Pitch Pine (Pinus banksiana) vs. Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)Nov 01, 2019Jan 04, 2023
Eastern White Pine (Pinus banksiana) vs. Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)Nov 01, 2019Nov 01, 2019
Jack Pine (Pinus sylvestris) vs. Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)Nov 01, 2019Nov 01, 2019
Blackjack Oak (Quercus velutina) vs. Black Oak (Quercus velutina)Oct 28, 2019Dec 08, 2020
Southern Red Oak (Quercus marilandica) vs. Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)Oct 28, 2019Oct 16, 2020
Striped Maple (Acer spicatum) vs. Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum)Oct 23, 2019Jun 05, 2022
American Sweetgum (Kalopanax septemlobus) vs. Castor-Aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus)Oct 22, 2019Oct 22, 2019