First let us clarify what we are talking about when we say weeds here.
It has potent biochemicals that treat cancer, inflammation, anesthetic and digestive problems.
One way or another, you will find plants that look like weed but are not.
To prevent that from ever happening, here are 15 of the most confused plants with weed.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
This weed lookalike is a widely known root crop.
It is, however, poisonous when eaten raw or when not thoroughly washed.
It is also cultivated for industrial consumption.
It is however, brighter green in color with red stalks and smooth texture.
It is easy to identify the cassava from cannabis leaves, all in all.
It is pointed, rich green in color, withfive to seven of thembranching out from a single stalk.
The only difference is that chaste tree leaves do not have serrated edges and a jagged texture.
Like cannabis, chaste trees also have medicinal purposes.
Cleome
This plant during its youth stage highly resembles cannabis leaves.
It has the same long, narrow and pointy leaves and same green hue.
It also has a bit of atoothed edge on the leaveswithfive to six of them clumped in one stalk.
The similarity between cleome and weed stops there though.
In its individuality, cleome is planted as an ornamental.
It is unique for its red-purple, tentacle-like flowers that bloom from summer to the first frost.
It is beneficial for pollinator gardens because a lot of insects are attracted to it.
It is also an edible plant in Asia and central America.
This one however, has more extended leaves and with cuts that make it look like swords with handles.
It is a tropical plant found extensively in Mexico and Central America.
It is sold underground as marijuana or wild weed leaves to unknowing tourists.
For the rest of the year, it will be identified with its brownish-red stems and stalks.
Japanese Maple (Acerpalmatum)
This one is really one of the closest calls on being identified as weeds.
It is both grown in the outdoors or in containers.
It gets its name as it is a native of Japan (but also in Korea and China).
The difference however, is that weed leaves are narrower and pointier.
Related:21+ Different Types Of Maple Trees With Pictures
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Cannabis and kenaf have similar chemical properties though so the similarity does not stop at maturity.
As a matter of fact, it is even called Hibiscus cannabinus.
Mint
This herb is not as simple as you think.
It is sometimes mistaken for weed because its young leaves are toothed, pointy and ovate like weed.
Its flower buds also look like weed buds.
It also does not appreciate being mixed with other plants compared to weeds that could grow in between vegetation.
This is because of the uncanny resemblance of okra buds to cannabis buds.
Watch out for the leaves though because okra leaves are wider, rounder and not toothed.
Weed leaves are heavily jagged on the edges, narrow and pointy.
It has the same edgy texture like weeds, mildly serrated leaves and paler in color than cannabis.
As an herb, it does more than just making the food taste better and more aromatic.
It is part of the mint family and the oregano is a known medicinal plant.
For one, it is considered as an antibacterial agent and has the ability to lower blood pressure.
It is also rich in antioxidants and fiber, among others.
Most times you find it in pizza and pasta dishes.
They also have the same three to four clumps of leaves in one stalk and a rich green color.
For curious onlookers with no previous encounters with cannabis, the identification mistake could be made.
It is easy to grow and thrives as long as there is a well-draining soil.
Its flowers are loved by hummingbirds.
Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea)
This one is a multi-functional plant.
Its leaf buds also have the same size, shape and appearance to that of weed buds.
This one is not the same as industrial hemp though.
It is native to India and is also fondly called as madras hemp or Indian hemp.
This one is cultivated widely because of the quality fiber that it produces.
It assumes a key role not only in the textiles industry but also in the production of biofuel.
Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)
First of all, sweet ferns are not ferns at all.
They are actually deciduous shrubs which are commonly mistaken for as weeds at first glance.
They have the same delicate fern leaves but in cannabis, pointy but alternating looks.
Although that is the case, this plant is legal to plant.
It is also medically functional as it is used as mosquito repellant, anti-itch and as medical inhalant.
It is mistaken for the cannabis because of its long, narrow, pointed and finely serrated leaves.
At first glance, it looks like young cannabis leaves.
It is also aromatic but instead of smelling like pot leaves, the odor is more like licorice smell.
You will identify this plant apart from cannabis when it starts blooming yellow flowers in the spring.
This resemblance stops when this plant reaches maturity and blooms crimson red or creamy white flowers.
It is named as such because its native location is Texas and its leaves are star-shaped.
As a perennial plant, it blooms attractive flowers from July to October.
It is a versatile and hardy plant and is truly a good addition to gardens.
But then again, there will always be some salient characteristics that will show you their difference.
Hence, cannabis or weeds is a rather unique plant than most of us would acknowledge.
It has its own definite properties, distinct characteristics and habits that make it stand out from its look-alikes.
