As a cannabis user of a curious marijuana novice user, you probably have encountered plants that look like cannabis. At first glance, you’ll mistakenly perceive a bush of a plant as marijuana, and you’re not the only one who had this experience. But yes, some plants look like marijuana.
Some people cover their private marijuana garden in a place where weed growing is not legal. Because cannabis use is legal in some states, users prefer to grow cannabis in their yard or property and use plants to conceal them.
Growing cannabis as a natural source of alternative medicine can be done outdoors or indoors. Recreational gardeners and certified people are often allowed to grow their cannabis plants. But why does cannabis look-alike plants a hot topic today? Well, if you want to know about marijuana-like plants, check out these plants that are usually mistaken as real cannabis.
Here are the Plants That Look Like Marijuana
1. Cassava
Cassava was derived from the Latin term “Manihot esculenta” and it is one of the plants that look like marijuana. If you have an untrained eye, you’ll mistakenly think that cassava is cannabis because of the leaves. They are very similar to the leaves of cannabis. The leaves of cassava radiate out with a bright green color combination, so initial misidentification is easy.
So what’s the difference between cassava leaves and cannabis? Cassava leaves have seven leaflets that are larger than cannabis Indica strains. However, the leaves are more spacious. They can be stretched in the center since they’re coral plants.
2. Hibiscus
Another look-alike, the hibiscus plant’s leaves may closely resemble the leaflet of marijuana. Hibiscus has red in the leaves, which resembles cannabis leaves, red maple leaves, and rose mallow leaves. They can grow as big as a Hemp or a Sativa cannabis strain but are never the same in effects.
3. Kenaf
Kenaf was obtained from a Latin term “Hibiscus cannabinus”. It’s leaves have the same appearance as marijuana. Hibiscus is also called Deccan hemp. However, this plant is not at all related to the cannabis species. It only has a similarity to the leaves. The leaves slightly resemble the leaves of cannabis Indica strains.
What’s the difference then between cannabis and kenaf plants? Kenaf plants have wide leaves that are usually drawn from the middle with three large leaflets (small leaflets seen per section). Cannabis plants grow at an average of 2 to 4 meters in height whereas kenaf plants reach 5.5 meters tall which is quite similar to bamboo stalks.
4. Coral Plant
Jatropha multifidus or coral plant grows into gorgeous cluster-like flowers, only seen in a fish tank or sea reef. However, before transforming into a flower, the evergreen shrubs of coral plants are like cannabis.
This coral plant is far less like the appearance of marijuana because the leaves produce more leaflets per section than stems in the middle part. Unlike weed, coral plant leaflets usually split its tips and draw in a complete circle that surrounds the middle.
5. Spider Flower
Cleome or spider flower has leaves that are similar to cannabis leaves (Indica variety). They are both broad leaflets growing in small portions. Spider flowers have prominent veins in the leaves. It can grow as tall as 5 feet. Once the spider flowering plant produces flowers, you’ll notice it’s different and not marijuana.
6. Sweetfern
If you’re a plant lover, you’ll find sweet fern very cute, which is a deciduous shrub. However, this plant is not cannabis, although it looks quite similar to weed. This plant is a native plant species in North America, not sharing the same genes with cannabis. Surprisingly, sweet fern smells like your smoke herb.
The leaves of sweet fern have long bumpy strands. They can be drawn out of the middle. Sweetfern leaves are used as a tea. The small burrs grow leaves containing nutlets (edible part).
7. Skunk Cabbage
Skunk Cabbage at first glance or without cannabis experience looks like a weed. Skunk cabbage may also have a similar taste to pot. Skunk cabbage is not cabbage nor does it belong to the cannabis family.
This amazing looking plant has calla lily-like flowers. If you’re a gardener or garden lover, skunk cabbage makes a great ornamental plant. The roots of this plant are used as an effective laxative of bears after they hibernate. Also, the leaves can alleviate the swelling.
8. Sunn Hemp
This marijuana look-alike is popularly known as brown hemp. Some also call it Indian hemp. Sunn hemp plant belongs to the rosid class. It can grow up to 30 feet. Professional growers usually use this plant to hide their cannabis crops. Selecting marijuana-like plants as concealers are strange though, but some cannabis growers use them.
9. Cranberry Hibiscus
Cranberry Hibiscus is quite similar to the appearance of marijuana, which was derived from the Latin term “hibiscus acetosella”. This plant belongs to the famous hibiscus family, which is cultivated as a most-sought ornamental plant in warmer climates. This plant is a perennial shrub with pink blooms and burgundy throats. The leaves can be eaten because of its lemony flavor.
Tips When Encountering These cannabis Look-Alikes
- If you’re so intrigued, go ahead and take a closer look and be amazed by the cannabis look-alike plant. But make sure that the property owner is not looking or better yet, ask permission to check it to avoid problems.
- As much as possible, never use marijuana look-alike plants to cover your real cannabis plants. It will only catch the attention of your nosy neighbors and might report you to the authorities if they smell skunk cabbage or see cassava leaves in your yard, along with your real marijuana plants.
Conclusion
The cannabis look-alike plants listed above are plants that are mistakenly perceived as cannabis. However, some of the features only resemble cannabis. They have similarities with cannabis along the way. Were you amazed by the fact that cannabis plants have twins? Well, not really. They are just look-alikes. There could be other plants that look like marijuana and up to be discovered.
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