AI plants uncertainty for gardeners
- Frank Becker, OSU Extension Wayne County
- May 8, 2025
- 28
Already a few times this spring, I have come across social media posts and advertisements for spring sales of garden and landscape plants. Upon closer review of these listings, I began to notice strange characteristics in the images. Plant sizes and growth habits were severely abnormal, as were the colors and patterns on the foliage. It didn’t take me long to realize the suspect images were the result of an artificial intelligence creation.
You also may have noticed similar posts. In popular online gardening forums on various social media platforms, it is now very common to come across posts and images that feature plants and landscapes that appear to have come out of a dream world, rather than out of our yards and gardens.
Lauren Goldsby, a University of Florida horticulture extension agent, shares this about AI images being shared online:
“An AI or artificial intelligence generated photo is made using a computer program instead of being captured by a camera. These programs can produce images based on a user’s description or request, generating realistic or abstract photos. Scroll through the comments on these images and you’ll see a mix of reactions. Some love the photos, asking where they can find these plants. Others are quick to point out that they aren’t real. For the most part, these images are harmless fun, sparking creativity and potentially inspiring people to spend more time outdoors with their own plants.”
Unfortunately, these types of images also are being used to create traffic and interaction on pages (increasing social media revenue) and marketing of seeds, cuttings and plant stock that just flat-out don’t exist. In many cases money is exchanged, and either nothing is sent in return or what is sent to the purchaser are weed seeds, unviable seeds or other unknown species. (Never plant seeds you don’t know what they are, as warned by ODA to those receiving unsolicited seed packs.)
Admittedly, it can be exciting to feel a sense of discovery when you believe you have come across a new plant you have never seen before; however, you need to take some precautions to avoid being scammed online.
Goldsby shares some of her recommendations on recognizing AI-generated images. Firstly, she points out many of these images have a very unnatural appearance. AI can be very convincing but can often be somewhat sloppy when it comes to fine details, especially those that are scientific in nature. Look for leaves, stems or flowers that appear to be growing into each other or other nature-defying traits. This could include size and color. This is one of those cases where “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
AI also likes to severely blur the background, making the suspect plant the focus of the image. Part of the reasoning for this is to hide defects in the AI-generated image. Also, beware of inconsistency between photos. Goldsby also highlights how this factor can clue you into AI-generated content. Real photos of real plants would show consistent features from photo to photo. If the plant species is the same, even different photos of different individual plants would show consistent features. In AI imagery, photos of the same “species” can look vastly different.
Goldsby said, “In real plants, leaf shapes and patterns are typically similar but not identical. AI-generated plant photos often have leaves and patterns that are either identical or differ more than a living plant would. To help differentiate between real and AI-generated images, watch for repetitive patterns that appear perfect or identical on leaves. In nature there are subtle differences within patterns and shapes that we expect to see.”
We all love to see what the newest up-and-coming advances are in horticulture and landscape plants, but it’s important to keep a realistic perspective on what you may see online, if not being slightly skeptical. Being an optimistic skeptic may protect you from being caught in a scam.
When you come across these posts, check for a specific variety, species or other identifying features like botanical names. This will allow you to do more research on the plant and “fact-check” what is being advertised. There are online AI image detectors that can be utilized to help determine if an image is AI-generated. You also may take the opportunity to check with reputable local vendors. Many of them are happy to talk with you about the available cultivars and varieties and can assist with guiding you in the right direction.
Avoid using social media and other unreliable sources to get more information on these scenarios. If you are still unsure about what you are seeing, don’t hesitate to reach out to other trusted agencies and resource professionals such as OSU Extension. It is our hope you will take a few extra glances at these posts and be able to protect yourself from financial frustrations and misinformation. Happy gardening!
Frank Becker is the agriculture and natural resources extension educator with Ohio State University Extension Wayne County and a certified crop adviser and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or becker.587@osu.edu.