Written by Brandon Topp

Many weed plants share leaf shapes and structures similar to those of other common plants, making them easy to confuse.

Whether you're a curious stoner, grower, plant enthusiast, or just curious — it's helpful to know how to differentiate cannabis from plants that resemble marijuana plants, cannabis leaves, or hemp.

Some plants have palm-shaped leaves and serrated leaf margins, while others share a woody stem or similar growth habit to the pot plant.

To get more specific, let’s break down 10 look-alike plants that might fool you and how to spot the differences.

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Table of Contents

• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

• Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

• Cleome (Cleome hassleriana)

• Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

• Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

• Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)

• Coral Plant (Jatropha multifida)

• Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

• Southern Marigold (Tagetes minuta)

• Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

1. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

The Japanese maple tree has palm-shaped leaves and serrated edges like we mentioned above, which is one of the reasons people find that it resembles weed plants.

Unlike actual cannabis plants, Japanese maple leaves can be red, burgundy, or purple, and the tree has a woody stem instead of a flexible stalk. It's a distinct plant species that is simple to differentiate if you look up a few side-by-side pictures.

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2. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

A member of the hibiscus family, kenaf plants are often grown as a green manure crop in tropical and subtropical gardens.

Their plant leaves also have serrated edges, resembling cannabis sativa in the early growth stages.

Unlike cannabis sativa, Kenaf produces small yellow flowers and lacks psychoactive compounds like THCa and other cannabinoids.

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3. Cleome (Cleome hassleriana)

Frequently described as the "spider flower," Cleome has a shape that can resemble marijuana leaves.

A closer look makes distinguishing between the two simple. Cleome produces bright pink flowers that are fluffy and whispy, while cannabis cultivation causes flower to grow in dense clusters.

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4. Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

Cassava plants grow in tropical and subtropical regions, and their cassava leaves share a striking resemblance to cannabis.

At a quick glance they may look similar, but differentiating the two is easy. Cassava plants have seed pods and a woody stem, but they don’t produce buds like female plants in the cannabis family.

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5. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

This woody shrub is often grown in subtropical gardens and has palm-shaped leaves that can resemble sunn hemp.

Unlike cannabis, the chaste tree produces clusters of white flowers.

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6. Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)

A member of the hibiscus family, Texas Star Hibiscus has leaf margins similar to cannabis plants.

This plant grows bright red flowers, unlike most cannabis strains, which develop dense cannabis flowers in their growth habit.

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7. Coral Plant (Jatropha multifida)

The coral plant is sometimes mistaken for growing pot due to its early growth stages.

While there's a resemblance, the coral plant leaves are more lobed, and of course it lacks psychoactive properties.

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8. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

An invasive species, horseweed can look like marijuana at first glance due to its growth habit.

If you want to tell the difference, horseweed has thin green leaves and does not have serrated edges like cannabis.

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9. Southern Marigold (Tagetes minuta)

A common green manure crop, Southern Marigold has a leaf shape that can resemble marijuana.

If you want to differentiate them, this plant has inconspicuous flowers and a strong citrus-like scent.

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10. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

This invasive species is often commonly mistaken for cannabis plants during its vegetative stage.

To tell the difference, Ragweed has thin green leaves and does not produce buds like female plants in the cannabis family.

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Learn More About Mood’s Cannabis Products

While some common plants may resemble marijuana or hemp, only actual cannabis plants provide the true effects and experience.

Whether you’re into growing cannabis or just want the best products, Mood offers premium THCa flower, vapes, pre-rolls, and concentrates—everything you need to enjoy real cannabis.

Want to dive deeper into cannabis strains, their effects, and the best ways to enjoy them? Check out the Mood Blog for expert insights and product recommendations.