Weeds are unwanted plants that grow in your yard, garden, or farm. Some weeds can be particularly aggressive and can choke out the plants that want to grow. Weeds create a messy garden, and many can be difficult to remove. So if you’ve found some weeds with heart shaped leaves in your garden, you may be wondering what they are.
Before you can effectively remove weeds, it’s helpful to know what they are. Some weeds can damage more crops than others, so knowing what is popping up gives you more knowledge about how and when to treat the weeds you see.
Weeds also react differently to control tactics, especially when they are reproducing. If you don’t treat them early enough, you could be too late, as some release thousands of seeds that could pop up next year. Let’s take a look at some of the most common weeds that have leaves with a heart-like shape.
Ground covers with heart shaped leaves can add charm and romance to any landscape The distinctive cordate leaf shape brings a touch of beauty while serving the practical purpose of covering and holding soil. With so many options, including vines, ferns, and low-growing plants, heart-shaped ground covers offer versatility for a variety of garden conditions and hardiness zones
Why Choose Ground Cover with Heart Shaped Leaves
Ground cover plants grow low to the ground, holding soil in place and preventing erosion. They spread to form a dense mat, choking out weeds. Ground covers add visual interest and fill in empty spaces between taller plants. The spreading nature of ground covers makes them useful for covering large areas or blank canvases quickly.
Heart shaped leaves have an inherent beauty that makes them a popular choice. The cordate shape with its distinctive indentation at the base gives heart-shaped leaves a romantic vibe. They add a soft, flowing element to the landscape. The heart shape is less stiff and formal than other leaf shapes like ovals or spades.
Heart-shaped ground cover brings versatility. Vining plants like creeping figs take well to training up supports like walls and trellises. Meanwhile, low carpeters like violets and deadnettles form mats hugging the ground. There are hardy varieties for cold climates and tropical beauties for hotter zones.
Ground Covers with Heart Shaped Leaves
Here are some top options for ground cover with charming cordate foliage:
Creeping Fig
Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a versatile evergreen vine perfect for walls, fences, containers or the ground It clings using aerial roots and quickly forms a blanket of small, lush green heart shaped leaves Hardy to zone 8, creeping fig thrives in sun or shade.
Purple Dead Nettle
Despite its common name, the delicate purple flowers and fuzzy heart-shaped leaves of purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) add whimsy and color to shady gardens. It spreads readily, tolerates poor soil, and has edible leaves. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a shade-loving perennial ground cover with aromatic lance-shaped leaves in whorls along square stems. Tiny white star flowers in spring. It spreads vigorously by rhizomes and seed to carpet areas. Grows 6-12 inches tall and prefers partial to full shade. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Periwinkle
There are two popular species of periwinkle (Vinca minor and Vinca major) used as hardy, fast-spreading evergreen ground covers for full sun or shade. They have glossy oval leaves and light purple pinwheel flowers. Can be invasive. Periwinkle is hardy in zones 4-8 and grows 4-6 inches tall.
English Ivy
English ivy (Hedera helix) is a rugged evergreen vine or ground cover for full sun or shade known for its adaptability. Juvenile foliage is lobed and heart shaped, while mature leaves are unlobed. It climbs or creeps along the ground and spreads aggressively. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Epimedium
Epimedium, also called barrenwort, is a perennial ground cover for shade with heart-shaped leaves. Spreading by rhizomes, it quickly forms a carpet of foliage topped with delicate flowers in spring. ‘Sulphureum’ has green and yellow variegated leaves. Grows 8-12 inches tall. Zones 5-9.
Hosta
Many hosta varieties work well as shade loving ground covers, like ‘Francee’ with its vigor and green leaves edged in white. Hostas spread by rhizomes at a moderate pace. They add texture with their thick, heart-shaped, and sometimes crinkled foliage. Hostas also produce spikes of bell flowers in summer.
Caladium
For tropical flair, grow caladiums as annual ground covers. Heart-shaped leaves have striking veined patterns in white, red, and pink for bright color. Plant tubers in spring after frost danger passes. Caladiums grow 12-18 inches tall and prefer partial sun to full shade. Hardy only in zones 9-11.
Sweet Violet
Delicate sweet violet (Viola odorata) thrives as a carefree ground cover hardy in zones 4-9. Heart-shaped foliage forms a mat and cheery blooms add purple-blue color in spring. Spreads by seeds and rhizomes at a moderate pace. Grows 3-6 inches tall and prefers partial to full shade.
Buttercup
Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is a perennial wildflower that spreads readily to form ground cover. Glossy green, heart-shaped foliage has cutout sides. Bright golden cup-shaped flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Grows 6-12 inches tall. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Loropetalum
For showy color, grow the purple-leaved Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) as a ground cover shrub. Oval leaves have a heart shape. From spring through summer, pink fringe-like blooms cover the branches. Grows 2-3 feet tall and spreads 3-5 feet wide. Hardy in zones 7-10.
Heartleaf Ice Plant
If you want a succulent ground cover, try heartleaf ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). This low-growing perennial has lush, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves. Daisy-like purple flowers bloom spring through fall. Drought tolerant once established. Grows 2-4 inches tall, spreads 12-18 inches wide. Hardy in zones 5-10.
Caring for Heart-Shaped Ground Covers
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Most heart-shaped ground covers thrive in moist, well-draining soil. Amend soil with compost or organic matter to improve drainage.
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Water ground covers regularly until established. Mature plants are often drought tolerant.
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Spreading ground covers like vinca may need containment like edges or divider strips to prevent rampant growth.
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Cut back any diseased or dead foliage to encourage new growth. Divide congested plants.
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Apply organic mulch like pine needles or bark around plants to retain moisture and limit weeds.
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Fertilize established ground cover lightly in spring. Avoid excess nitrogen that spurs leggy growth.
The Beauty and Function of Heart Shaped Ground Covers
With their flowing, romantic foliage and carpeting habits, ground covers with heart shaped leaves bring versatility and aesthetic appeal. They rapidly fill empty spaces, prevent erosion, and crowd out weeds. From tropical caladiums to hardy violets, heart-shaped ground covers provide a practical solution with a touch of beauty. Once established, they require minimal care to thrive season after season.
Examples of Weeds With Heart Shaped Leaves
If you have weeds with heart-shaped leaves, it’s helpful to know what kind of plants they are so you can remove them. Weeds can be categorized as grasses and broadleaf plants. Grasses will not have leaves, while broadleaf weeds can have several types of leaves. Those that are heart-shaped are technically butterfly-shaped.
To better understand the type of weed you have, check how the leaves attach to the stem. They can either be opposite or alternating. Pay attention to the texture and color, as well as the base of the leaf where it attaches to the stem. Several weeds with heart-shaped leaves appear all over the United States.
Bermuda buttercup is an Oxalis that looks like clover or shamrock. The plant lives in agricultural areas, especially in irrigated farms. The plant can be toxic to livestock. Despite occasionally being ornamental, the plant can become a nuisance. The plant is ubiquitous in urban, suburban, and rural locations.
It is easy to identify by its small yellow flowers and clusters of heart-like leaves. The plant prefers full sun, while the creeping wood sorrel prefers shady conditions.
Removing Bermuda buttercup is challenging, especially when the weed grows in ornamental landscape areas. To avoid spreading the weed, do not move soil to other areas of the garden. The plant has bulbs, so the best way to remove them is by removing the bulbs. They typically grow in zones 8-11, so if you live in this area, keep your eyes open for them.
Creeping wood sorrel is a low-growing perennial. It has clover-like leaves, and this weed is identifiable by its yellow flowers. It prefers shady conditions. Creeping wood sorrel prefers yards and gardens along with agricultural areas. Since it is an Oxalis, it can be difficult to remove. The little yellow flowers have five separate petals.
Removing wood sorrel involves controlling the seeds and hand-weeding mature plants. Once established, it can take years to remove creeping wood sorrel. Some people treat established wood sorrel by covering it with mulch to prevent light from helping it germinate. It’s best to remove these plants manually by the root.
Henbit is a biennial plant that grows in agricultural areas, gardens, landscapes, and roadsides. The plants can grow to 1.3 feet tall, and they are readily identifiable by their heart-shaped leaves and square-shaped stems. They have hairy leaves with rounded tips and toothed edges. Henbit weeds are also identifiable by their purple flowers.
Between March and August, henbits flower in red or purple whorls. They can self-pollinate, making them especially resilient. Some of the small flowers on the lower leaves do not open. Henbit can grow in lawns and sidewalk cracks.
The best way to control henbit is to grow a thick, healthy yard so it can not find a place to take root. Using weed killer for lawns will protect your lawn and kill unwanted weeds like henbit.
The Japanese Morning Glory is a broadleaf plant that has heart-shaped leaves. While some people grow it by choice, the plant has become a weed in the San Joaquin Valley in California, especially in cotton farms. This weed needs moisture and does not survive hard freezes.
The best time to control morning glories is when they are seedlings before they begin climbing stems and choking crops. Once they’ve wrapped their leaves around crops, it is too difficult to remove them without damaging crops.
Japanese Morning Glory seeds survive for a long time, and they can release alkaloid compounds that can be toxic to animals and people. They tend to become problematic in gardens, vineyards, orchards, and unmanaged locations.
The seedlings are easy to identify, especially since they emerge when the ground offers substantial moisture. The seed leaves are glossy and butter-fly shaped. They are hairless where the connection is purplish-red. By the time the plant becomes mature, the leaves reach up to three inches in length and they alternate on the stem.
Japanese Morning Glory flowers between June and November. The funnel-shaped flowers are pale purple with white at the base.
Removing any morning glory weeds can take time. Removing the plant at the root does not work, as the remaining plants send out more tendrils to stay alive. Repeated removal and mowing will generally produce results, but it will take time.
Oxalis is a tenacious weed that looks like a clover. It resembles a groundcover and has small yellow flowers. There is no good time to remove Oxalis because it regrows quickly and only needs a fragment of a stem. Animals can move the plant, and it grows successfully in most soil conditions. Oxalis comes in a variety of colors, including orange.
It is possible to control Oxalis. Pulling the weed can be difficult, as the fragments can continue to establish new plants. We do not recommend using a herbicide as they can kill other local native plants. Plan on it taking some time to remove this weed by hand.
Top 10 Flowering Ground Covers
FAQ
What ground cover has small heart shaped leaves?
Epimedium – Interesting ground cover with heart shaped leaves and small yellow flowers in early spring.
What are the weeds with heart shaped leaves?
The Japanese Morning Glory is a broadleaf plant that has heart-shaped leaves. While some people grow it by choice, the plant has become a weed in the San Joaquin Valley in California, especially in cotton farms.
What ornamental plant has heart shaped leaves?
Hoya kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya)
The sweetheart hoya is a charming succulent, known for its plump, heart-shaped leaves, which make it a perfect symbol of love. It’s rather low maintenance, whether you keep it as a single leaf or let it grow into a vining bush.
What is an invasive vine with heart shaped leaves?
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Giant Bindweed (Calystegia sylvatica):An extremely invasive vine with heart-shaped leaves and large white morning-glory flowers.
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Honeyvine Milkweed (Ampelamus albidus):A perennial vine with heart-shaped leaves that spreads by seed and roots.
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Moth Vine (Araujia sericifera):Native to South America, it has broad heart-shaped leaves, large green fruits, and hairy twining stems.
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Air Potato Vine (Dioscorea bulbifera):An aggressive vine with heart-shaped leaves and small, round tubers resembling potatoes.
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Cinnamon Vine (Dioscorea batatas):Has slender vines and pointed, heart-shaped leaves that are often indented on the sides.
What are some plants with heart-shaped leaves?
There are many plants with heart-shaped leaves that you can grow. These plants can range from vines to trees, from ground covers to houseplants, and from tropical plants to cold-hardy specimens. Whether you are seeking a romantic touch for your home or your yard, there are plenty of options to choose from.
What is a heart shaped plant?
Plants with heart shaped leaves add a touch of romance and elegance to gardens, landscapes, and indoor spaces. These leaves’ unique and symbolic shape, resembling the universal symbol of love, create a beautiful visual appeal.
What does a String of Hearts plant look like?
String of hearts is a beautiful trailing succulent plant with small heart-shaped gray-green leaves and mottled patterns. The small leaves measure 0.8” (2 cm) long and grow on delicate string-like stems.
What do heart-shaped leaves symbolize?
Plants with heart-shaped leaves symbolize love, care, and dedication, adding visual appeal to any plant collection. Attractive plants like hoyas, heartleaf philodendron, monstera, and string-of-hearts are some of the most beautiful houseplants and garden plants you can grow.
What shape are the leaves of plants mentioned?
Plants with leaves that resemble hearts (sometimes called a ‘cordate’ shape) can range from vines to trees, from ground covers to houseplants, and from tropical plants to cold-hardy specimens. Whether you are seeking a romantic touch for your home or your yard, there are many plants with heart-shaped leaves to choose from.
Which succulents have heart-shaped leaves?
Several succulents are known for their heart-shaped leaves. The variegated string of hearts is one such attractive trailing succulent with heart-shaped leaves. Its leaf variegation consists of pink and cream patterns on green cordate leaves and dusty pink stems.