Nature often surprises us with its unique patterns and designs, and one of the most delightful examples is found in trees with heart-shaped leaves. Trees with heart-shaped leaves add a lovely touch to the landscape. If you plan your plant selection, you can enjoy much more than just green heart shapes in the summer yard.
What is a Heart-Shaped Leaf Tree?
A heart-shaped leaf tree is any tree whose leaves are shaped like hearts. These leaves are typically broad, with a rounded base and a pointed tip, resembling the familiar symbol of a heart. Trees with heart-shaped leaves are often admired for their unique and attractive foliage. Heart-shaped tree leaves can be cordate or obcordate, depending on which end has the petiole.
- Cordate leaves: The petiole is attached to the indentation at the rounded base.
- Obcordate leaves: The petiole is attached to the pointed end of the heart-shaped leaf.
These trees serve various purposes, from providing shade and habitat to contributing to the aesthetic appeal of gardens and natural spaces. Their leaves’ unique shape can be a focal point in any environment, evoking sentiments of affection and tranquility.
Trees With Heart Shaped Leaves
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Leaf Details: Small to medium-sized heart-shaped leaves, vibrant green in summer, turning yellow in fall.
- Notable Features: Known for its stunning pink or purple spring blossoms, often blooming on bare branches before leaves appear.
- Native Range: Eastern and central North America.
- Uses: Popular in ornamental landscaping.
Katsura Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
- Leaf Details: Rounded, heart-shaped leaves with a bluish-green hue, turning vibrant yellow to orange in autumn.
- Notable Features: Emits a sweet, cotton-candy-like fragrance in the fall as leaves decompose.
- Native Range: Japan and China.
- Uses: Valued for its attractive fall colors and unique scent.
Foxglove Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
- Leaf Details: Large heart-shaped leaves, velvety texture.
- Notable Features: Fast-growing tree with clusters of fragrant, lavender flowers resembling foxgloves.
- Native Range: China, but widely cultivated in North America and Europe.
- Uses: Often used for shade or timber production.
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
- Leaf Details: Large, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long.
- Notable Features: Known for its showy white flowers and long, bean-like seed pods.
- Native Range: Central United States.
- Uses: Commonly planted as an ornamental tree.
American Lime / Basswood (Tilia americana)
- Leaf Details: Large, asymmetrical heart-shaped leaves with a serrated edge.
- Notable Features: Produces fragrant, yellowish-white flowers that attract bees.
- Native Range: Eastern North America.
- Uses: Often planted for shade and honey production.
Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa)
- Leaf Details: Heart-shaped leaves with a silver underside.
- Notable Features: Shimmering effect when wind rustles the foliage.
- Native Range: Southeast Europe and Western Asia.
- Uses: Ornamental tree and shade provider.
Yellow Poplar / Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- Leaf Details: Uniquely shaped leaves that often have a heart-like base.
- Notable Features: Produces tulip-shaped, yellow-green flowers and is one of the tallest hardwood trees.
- Native Range: Eastern United States.
- Uses: Valued for its timber and landscaping.
Princess Tree (Paulownia elongata)
- Leaf Details: Similar to Foxglove Tree, with large, soft, heart-shaped leaves.
- Notable Features: Produces purple, fragrant flowers in early spring.
- Native Range: China.
- Uses: Grown for ornamental purposes and fast timber production.
Empress Tree (Paulownia fortunei)
- Leaf Details: Broad, heart-shaped leaves with a lush, green appearance.
- Notable Features: Fast-growing and used for reforestation in some regions.
- Native Range: Asia.
- Uses: Ornamental planting and timber.
Linden Tree (Tilia cordata)
- Leaf Details: Small, heart-shaped leaves with a smooth texture.
- Notable Features: Fragrant flowers and smooth bark make it a common street tree.
- Native Range: Europe.
- Uses: Ideal for urban areas and pollinator-friendly gardens.
Aspen Tree (Populus tremula)
- Leaf Details: Rounded heart-like leaves with finely toothed edges.
- Notable Features: Leaves tremble in the wind due to their flattened petioles.
- Native Range: Europe and Asia.
- Uses: Planted for shade and its aesthetic appeal.
Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa)
- Leaf Details: Unique heart-shaped leaves with an extended tip.
- Notable Features: Sacred in many cultures, particularly in Buddhism, as it is believed to be the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
- Native Range: India and Southeast Asia.
- Uses: Cultivated as a sacred tree and for its shade.
Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria digyna)
- Leaf Details: Small, rounded heart-shaped leaves.
- Notable Features: A low-growing tree that thrives in cold, alpine environments.
- Native Range: Arctic and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Uses: Known for its edible, tangy leaves used in salads.
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
- Leaf Details: Large, triangular-to-heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges.
- Notable Features: Fast-growing tree that produces fluffy, cotton-like seeds in spring.
- Native Range: North America.
- Uses: Often used as a windbreak or shade tree.
Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)
- Leaf Details: Varied shapes, including heart-shaped leaves, with a rough texture.
- Notable Features: Produces fibrous bark traditionally used to make paper.
- Native Range: East Asia.
- Uses: Grown for its fiber and ornamental value.
Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignonioides)
- Leaf Details: Large, heart-shaped leaves with a soft texture.
- Notable Features: Showy white flowers with purple spots, followed by long seed pods.
- Native Range: Southeastern United States.
- Uses: Ornamental tree for gardens and streetscapes.
Elephant Ear Tree (Macaranga tanarius)
- Leaf Details: Large, rounded heart-shaped leaves with prominent veins.
- Notable Features: Named for its massive leaves resembling elephant ears.
- Native Range: Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
- Uses: Cultivated for shade and soil stabilization.
Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
- Leaf Details: Small, heart-shaped leaves with a soft green color.
- Notable Features: Produces vibrant pink-purple flowers along its branches in early spring.
- Native Range: Southern Europe and Western Asia.
- Uses: Ornamental tree in landscapes and gardens.
Aspen Poplar (Populus tremuloides)
- Leaf Details: Rounded, heart-like leaves that tremble in the wind.
- Notable Features: A defining tree of North America’s boreal forests, known for its vibrant fall colors.
- Native Range: North America.
- Uses: Valued for its aesthetic appeal and ecological importance,
Malabar Tree (Pterospermum acerifolium)
- Leaf Details: Large, slightly lobed, heart-shaped leaves.
- Notable Features: Produces fragrant flowers and large leaves used in traditional wrapping.
- Native Range: India and Southeast Asia.
- Uses: Ornamental and used for shade.
Large-leaved Lime (Tilia platyphyllos)
- Leaf Details: Large, heart-shaped leaves with a soft texture.
- Notable Features: Produces fragrant, yellow flowers that attract pollinators.
- Native Range: Europe and Asia.
- Uses: Often planted in parks and gardens for shade.
Indian Almond (Terminalia catappa)
- Leaf Details: Broad, heart-shaped leaves with red or yellow hues in fall.
- Notable Features: Produces edible nuts and has medicinal properties.
- Native Range: Tropical Asia.
- Uses: Cultivated for shade and fruit.
Heartleaf Oxeye (Telekia speciosa)
- Leaf Details: Large, heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges.
- Notable Features: Known for its yellow, daisy-like flowers.
- Native Range: Central and Eastern Europe.
- Uses: Ornamental and pollinator-friendly tree.
Violet Tree (Securidaca longepedunculata)
- Leaf Details: Small, delicate, heart-shaped leaves.
- Notable Features: Produces clusters of violet flowers.
- Native Range: Africa.
- Uses: Medicinal uses in traditional remedies and as an ornamental plant.
What to Consider When Selecting Heart-Shaped Trees
When choosing trees for your yard, heart-shaped leaves are just the start. Here are a few key factors to keep in mind:
- Fall Foliage: Many heart-leaved trees transform in autumn, adding vivid yellows, oranges, or purples to your yard.
- Flowers: Some trees double down on beauty with gorgeous seasonal blooms.
- Size and Growth Habit: From petite understory species to stately shade trees, knowing how big and wide a tree will grow helps you plan better.