As a gardener, dealing with weeds is an inevitable part of maintaining a healthy garden. While some weeds are easily identified, others can leave you scratching your head, especially when they have an unusual leaf shape like a heart. If you’ve spotted some unfamiliar weeds with heart shaped leaves in your flower beds or vegetable patches, this guide will help you identify them.
Why Identify Garden Weeds?
Being able to accurately identify garden weeds is important for a few reasons
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It helps you understand how best to control or remove them. Different weeds require different management techniques.
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Knowing what you’re dealing with allows you to spot potential problems early before weeds spread or cause harm
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Properly identifying weeds helps you avoid mistakenly removing beneficial plants
Common Garden Weeds With Heart Shaped Leaves
Here are some of the most common garden weeds that have heart or heart-like shaped leaves:
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)
Creeping Charlie is a low-growing perennial weed that spreads aggressively via creeping stems that root at the nodes. The round, kidney-shaped leaves have scalloped edges and give off a minty aroma when crushed. Tiny bluish-purple flowers bloom in spring. It grows well in moist, shady areas.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
Henbit is a winter annual weed with square, reddish stems and distinctively shaped leaves. The round leaves attach directly to the upper stem and have a wrinkled appearance. Tiny pink-purple flowers bloom in early spring. Henbit thrives in cool weather but dies back in summer heat.
Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)
Closely related to henbit, this winter annual weed has light green leaves with a purplish tinge. The leaves are more triangular shaped with a heavily serrated margin. Showy pink-purple flowers sit atop the square stems in early spring before the plant dies back in summer.
Wood Sorrel (Oxalis species)
There are several oxalis species considered weeds, most notably creeping wood sorrel. These perennial weeds have clover-like trifoliate leaves, each leaflet heart-shaped with a creased middle. The stems and undersides of leaves often have a reddish color. Tiny yellow flowers bloom from spring to fall.
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Also called creeping Jenny, moneywort is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial with bright green, round or kidney-shaped leaves. It spreads rapidly through creeping stems that root at nodes. Small, bright yellow flowers bloom from June through August.
Wild Violets (Viola species)
Several violet species can be weedy, especially in lawns. The heart-shaped leaves have rounded tips and scalloped margins. The five-petaled flowers come in shades of white, blue, and purple. Wild violets spread easily through seeds and rhizomes.
Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)
The chameleon plant is a spreading perennial with heart-shaped leaves that come in a mix of colors like red, yellow, and cream. It’s popular in ornamental gardens but can be weedy and invasive. Tiny greenish-white flowers bloom in summer. It spreads aggressively through rhizomes.
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Japanese knotweed is an invasive perennial that’s notoriously difficult to eradicate. The heart-shaped leaves are bright green and pointed at the tip. Hollow, bamboo-like stems give this weed its common name. Dense stands of knotweed can cause damage to buildings and pavement.
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
This perennial weed forms a low, dense mat of dark green, heart-shaped leaves with wavy margins. The foliage dies back by summertime, but small, bright yellow flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge. Tubers below ground make it hard to control.
How to Manage Heart Shaped Garden Weeds
The best control method depends on the type of weed and extent of the infestation. Here are some effective options:
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Hand pull small infestations, being sure to remove all the roots and runners. This works best in moist soil.
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Digging with a trowel or hoe can help remove roots of perennial weeds like creeping Charlie.
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Apply selective herbicides containing chemicals like 2,4-D, dicamba, and triclopyr. Use caution and read labels carefully before use.
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Spread mulch over areas prone to weeds to block light and smother growth. Cardboard covered with wood chips is very effective.
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For lawns, use corn gluten meal in early spring to inhibit seed germination of annual weeds like henbit and deadnettle.
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Maintain healthy garden beds and lawns that are less hospitable to weeds.
Identifying unfamiliar weeds by leaf shape provides useful clues to proper management. Weeds with heart shaped leaves are some of the most common broadleaf garden weeds. Learning to properly identify and control them will lead to a healthier, less weedy landscape. Pay close attention as weeds first emerge in spring and take quick action before they get out of hand. With diligence and the right control methods, you can gain the upper hand on these troublesome garden invaders.
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.
Identifying and Controlling 13 Common Lawn and Garden Weeds
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Oxalis with Pink Flowers | Garden Weeds with Pretty Flowers
FAQ
What weeds have heart-shaped leaves?
- Bermuda Buttercup. The bermuda buttercup has clover like leaves, each in the shape of a heart. …
- Creeping Wood Sorrel. Another yellow flowered weed, the creeping wood sorrel is an invasive perennial weed. …
- Henbit. …
- Japanese Morning Glory. …
- Oxalis. …
- Tall Annual Morning Glory. …
- Velvetleaf.
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 outdoor plants have heart-shaped leaves?
- 01 of 20. Heart-Shaped Hoya. The Spruce / Cori Sears. …
- 02 of 20. String of Hearts Plant. …
- 03 of 20. Heart-Leaf Philodendron. …
- 04 of 20. Pothos. …
- 05 of 20. Anthurium. …
- 06 of 20. Cyclamen. …
- 07 of 20. Split-Leaf Philodendron. …
- 08 of 20. Foxglove Tree.
What is a trailing plant with heart shaped leaves?
Treat your home to this on trend ‘string of hearts‘ plant, also known as the rosary vine or Ceropegia Linearis Woodii. The ideal plant for a trendy hanging pots vine or position it on the edge of a windowsill or bookcase where its heart shaped leaves can freely trail.
Are heart shaped weeds invasive?
Walking around your garden, you will come across weeds with heart-shaped leaves. These weeds usually have nice flowers in astounding colors. But some weeds with heart-shaped leaves and brightly colored flowers are not the best ornamentals. Instead, they are invasive plants that can choke good plants.
What weeds have heart shaped leaves?
Several weeds with heart-shaped leaves appear all over the United States. The bermuda buttercup has clover like leaves, each in the shape of a heart. 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.
Do weeds have 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.
What plant has heart shaped leaves?
The plant with heart-shaped green and red leaves is the Caladium. This tropical perennial plant is notable for its stunning color variations and patterns, making it a popular choice for brightening up shady areas. What plant has three heart-shaped leaves?
What is velvetleaf weed?
Velvetleaf, known scientifically as Abutilon theophrasti, is a striking weed with heart shaped leaves that are covered in short hairs, bestowing upon them a soft, velvety feel. Velvetleaf reproduces only by seed and can produce up to 10,000 seeds per plant, which can remain viable in the soil for up to 50 years. Native to India and tropical Asia.
What do fuzzy heart shaped leaves look like?
Having said this, the fuzzy heart shaped leaves are quite a sight, alternately arranged on the long and upright stalk, reaching 6 inches across and in length (15 cm). The overall effect may remind you of a sunflower, but if you crush the foliage, it gives off a very unpleasant smell. We cannot say the same of the flowers though.