The digital age has now moved into the backyard. AI is fundamentally changing how some gardeners approach their green spaces, offering everything from 3D landscape visualizations to apps that identify plants and diagnose plant diseases.Now, the line between the virtual and the botanical is starting to blur.

"AI" or language learning models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are not all-knowing machines - they simply pull together massive datasets and "generate" you a digestible summary from the sources that it finds. It's important to remember the age-old saying that not everything you read or see on the internet is true - and to stay mindful when something seems fishy.

If you're trying to figure out if that breathtaking flower on your feed is a biological miracle or a digital fallacy, here is what you need to know about gardening in the age of AI.

For every AI tool that identifies that cool plant you saw on your walk, there’s a deceptive ad for a "Glow-in-the-Dark Blue Peony" or "Rainbow Hosta" that simply doesn't exist in nature.

These hyper-realistic, AI-generated plants are flooding seemingly reputable marketplaces - even big box stores! This leads to seed scams where unsuspecting hobbyists buy what appears to be dreamy plants' seeds or bulbs, and only receive disappointment (or worse, invasive weeds).

Here are a few red flags to look out for when viewing or buying plants online:

Oversaturated Colors

Neon blues, glowing purples, and metallics that simply don't exist in certain species. Nature’s palette is broad, but it rarely produces ultra-saturated, "electric" primary colors without a very good evolutionary reason.

No Botanical Name

Legitimate nurseries almost always list the genus and species (i.e. Monstera deliciosa). If a listing only uses buzzwords like "Galaxy Flower" or "Mystic Blue Vine" without a scientific name, it’s a major red flag.

Seeds Only - No Plugs or Bare Roots

This is one of the biggest traps. If someone is selling seeds for a "Rainbow Variegated Hosta", they are likely selling you an unknown hosta or common weeds.

Labeled "Rare"

While some plants are genuinely highly sought after and hard to come by, scammers use buzzwords like "rare" or "exotic" to justify high prices for a fake product. If a plant looks like an incredible feat of nature but is being sold for $5.99, your scam radar should be ringing.

Identical Leaf Shapes and Patterns

AI-generated images often show plants with perfectly symmetrical leaves. They will often look too perfect, smooth, or blurred. Look closely at the leaves: Are all of the leaves identical copies of each other? Do the blooms actually belong to a different plant?

Always do a "search and verify" through reputable sources if you can't quite tell if something is real or not! If you'd like a second set of eyes to look at a listing or ad, we're happy to take a look.

Below is a prime example of these falsities - every single listing is a fake, AI-generated product.

Creating images of a garden space can spark ideas and give you a real sense of a garden’s potential. That said, AI-generated plants are likely not to scale, may not actually work well together, and they don’t reflect how your garden will grow in real life. If you are going to use it, think of it as inspiration rather than a blueprint.

Some gardeners also use AI to detect plant problems, like pests or disease. AI can easily misidentify issues or miss subtle signs, so it’s always best to rely on your own eyes and a real life expert for a final diagnosis. We encourage you to send pictures of your plant to hello@tonkadale.com instead, so we can have our plant pros take a look at them for you!

At the end of the day, tools like AI can be helpful, but they’re just that: tools. No algorithm can replace your eyes, hands, or intuition as a gardener. Human touch is what truly brings a garden to life! So use technology to inspire, but always let your own senses and judgment guide the way.

If you would like assistance planning a garden space or verifying the legitimacy of a plant, feel free to stop in and ask! Otherwise, email us at hello@tonkadale.com - we're here to help!