There are several plants in which the leaves in particular look confusingly similar to hemp. Some of these are native to Europe or even have properties similar to some types of hemp.

In a nutshell

  • the water daffodil is a native species with hemp-like leaves
  • the kenaf has properties similar to industrial hemp
  • there are different breeds of Japanese maple that have foliage similar to cannabis
  • among the plants with hemp-like foliage there are also poisonous plants such as Aconitum cannabifolium
  • Anthurium polyschistum is an attractive houseplant that looks confusingly similar to real hemp

Aconitum cannabifolium

The plants of the monkshood species have leaves similar to hemp. This is particularly pronounced in Aconitum cannabifolium, a species that occurs mainly in the Caucasus.

  • Family: buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Flower: green-purple
  • Leaves: pinnate in 4 - 5 parts
  • Distribution: Caucasus, Asia

Aconitum cannabifolium is occasionally used homeopathically in Chinese medicine. But like all monkshood species, all parts of Aconitum cannabifolium are poisonous. This species is occasionally offered as an exotic ornamental shrub.

False Hemp (Anthurium polyschistum)

The false hemp has its name rightly so, because at first glance the leaves of the plant look confusingly similar to the cannabis herb. Perhaps that is why the plant has become a popular houseplant among young people. However, Anthurium polyschistum has no intoxicating effect.

  • Family: Araceae
  • Height: up to 200 cm
  • Flowering: does not flower as a houseplant
  • Leaves: Leaves pinnate in 5 parts
  • Distribution: Central America, South America

Notice: The "Tweed" variety is now offered as an exotic rarity in garden centers. When caring for Anthurium polyschistum, you only have to make sure that it is not frost-resistant and susceptible to spider mites.

Water daffodil (Eupatorium cannabinum)

In the past, the common water daffodil was often used in folk medicine for various diseases. However, due to the high content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it is not recommended to use the plant. However, it is very important for insects, because hoverflies and butterflies in particular collect the nectar from the water drop, which is an important food source until late summer.

  • Family: daisy family (Asteraceae)
  • Height: up to 175 cm
  • Flowers: Umbrella panicles with many pale pink-red individual flowers
  • Leaves: Leaves palmate, leaves arranged directly around the stem
  • Distribution: Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, a neophyte in North America and Australia

The leaves are reminiscent of those of cannabis, especially when the water daffodil has not yet bloomed. Even the inflorescence that is about to bloom is similar to a cannabis plant.

Green slotted maple (Acer palmatum)

Many maple species already have leaves that look similar to hemp. This mainly includes the Japanese maple, of which there are numerous breeds, and the green slotted maple also belongs to this species.

Source: Krzysztof Golik, Acer palmatum in Auckland Botanic Gardens 02, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Family: Soapberry family (Sapindaceae)
  • Height: up to 200 cm
  • Flower: unremarkable
  • Leaves: Finely and deeply slit, green, golden yellow to orange in autumn
  • Distribution: Japan, Korea, China

The botanical name "palmatum" is based on the Latin word for palm of the hand and is therefore also reminiscent of the leaf shape of cannabis. There are different breeds of Norway maple. The "Dissectum" variety is a bit more reminiscent of a hemp-like leaf, while the "Garnet" variety also has a similar leaf shape, but the leaves are dark red, which means they are not immediately associated with a hemp leaf.

Hemp-leaved marshmallow (Althaea cannabina)

The hemp-leaved marshmallow resembles mallow species in the flower, the leaves are hemp-like. The species occurs naturally in warmer regions, but can also be planted here with winter protection.

  • Family: Mallow family (Malvaceae)
  • Height: up to 180 cm
  • Flower: simple, slightly cupped flower, pink-violet
  • Leaves: pinnate and elongate, leaf margin is lobed, hairy
  • Distribution: Southern Europe, Western Asia, Caucasus, Central Asia

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

This cannabis-like plant also belongs to the mallow family, which is reflected in the very beautiful flowers. Kenaf is cultivated for fiber and oilseeds and therefore has properties similar to industrial hemp. The main growing areas are in India and China.

Source: Darendrojit, Housoubri-2, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • Family: Mallow family (Malvaceae)
  • Height: up to 400 cm
  • Flowers: simple, slightly cupped flowers, white-yellowish with a dark red base
  • Leaves: long-stalked, soft hairy, palmate
  • Distribution: Afro-Asian region

Kenaf can be grown in Central Europe, but is not frost-resistant, which means that it is cultivated for a maximum of one year. However, you can overwinter kenaf frost-free, which makes it perennial.

Monk's Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus)

The leaves of the chaste tree are pinnate between five and seven. The hand shape in which they are arranged is also reminiscent of the leaf shape of cannabis.

Monk's Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus)
  • Family: Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae)
  • Height: up to 400 cm
  • Flowers: small labial flowers, flower color varies from white to blue depending on the variety
  • Leaves: Pinnate leaves with lanceolate single leaves, leaves in some varieties toothed or serrate
  • Distribution: Mediterranean region, southwest Asia

The chaste tree is a popular medicinal plant and, despite its originally warm regions of origin, is hardy here too. However, the perennials will benefit from some frost protection in winter.

Notice: The "Cannabifolia" variety has heavily serrated leaves that are arranged similar to those of hemp. The Asian variant of the chaste tree, the Chinese chaste tree (Vitex negundo), also has hemp-like leaves.

Fake hemp (Datisca cannabina)

Source: peganum from Small Dole, England, Datisca cannabina Kniphofia northiae - Flickr - peganum edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Fake hemp (Datisca cannabina)
  • Family: Fake hemp family (Datiscaceae)
  • Height: up to 400 cm
  • Flowers: long racemose inflorescences, yellow individual flowers
  • leaves: imparipinnate, lanceolate single leaves
  • Distribution: Eastern Mediterranean to the Himalayas

In the case of bogus hemp, it is not so much the leaves that are reminiscent of cannabis, but above all the inflorescences that have not blossomed. The pseudo hemp is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental plant, which is not or only partially frost-resistant.

Senecio cannabifolius

Senecio cannabifolius does not yet have a German name, as the plant is a neophyte that was first found in Germany in 2003. In isolated cases, this species of groundsel has already formed dense stands in Germany.

  • Family: daisy family (Asteraceae)
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Flowers: racemose panicles, small yellow individual flowers
  • Leaves: partly sessile, five individual pinnate leaves, die off by the time of flowering
  • Distribution: Asia

In German-speaking countries, the name "hemp-leaf ragweed" will probably prevail, especially if the stocks continue to spread. Due to comparable site conditions, the plant definitely has the potential to establish itself here permanently.

frequently asked Questions

Are there visually similar species to cannabis within the hemp family?

The hemp family also includes hops, for example, whose leaves are only vaguely reminiscent of those of hemp plants. They are not so finely and deeply slit. The hackberry, which is also assigned to this family, no longer has slit leaves, but only elliptical individual leaves.

Are there hemp-like plants that are equally usable?

No other species can boast a comparable intoxicating effect to that of cannabis herb. However, there are species, such as kenaf, that have the same fiber properties as fiber hemp, for example.

Can I plant cannabis-like plants in the garden?

You can plant native species such as the water daffodil without hesitation, as you are even promoting beneficial insects. However, with exotic species that are planted outdoors, you should make sure that they are not invasive species that can colonize different biotopes.

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Garden plants