Hey, folks! I am thrilled to guide you through the captivating landscape of weeds with heart shaped leaves.
However, not all of them will suit your landscaping design. Some of these weeds are very aggressive in nature and may rob nutrients from surrounding plants/trees. That is why, you should be careful in choosing weeds for your gardening project.
Now get ready and join me to discover these botanical wonders. If you are a little like me, quickly jump to your favorite part by clicking on it in the table of contents.
“Disclaimer! I am not endorsing or promoting the consumption of any weed. It is wise to conduct your own research before making any such decisions. This article aims to provide information only”.
Weeds With Heart Shaped Leaves
Below is the list of weeds with heart-shaped leaves along with their local and scientific names. enjoy!
1.Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
Velvetleaf is a weed that is native to South Asia. Leaves are heart-shaped with pointed tips and are alternatively arranged.
It is commonly found in waste areas and fence rows.
Velvetleaf is valued for its fiber and oil. However, it is not frequently cultivated because of its invasive nature.
This species steals nutrients from other crops, thus causing severe damage to them.
2.Black Bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus)
Also known as wild buckwheat is commonly found in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Like velvetleaf, it is a highly invasive plant in North America.
Buckwheat has rough and hairless stems. The leaves are heart shaped and are alternatively arranged around the stem.
The flowers are small and born in clusters within the leaf axles. They are white or greenish. After pollination, they produce shiny triangular-shaped seeds.
It tends to crawl or climb and wraps itself around various objects.
3.Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)
This weed is predominantly found in moist areas around the world. This common spring weed is used as salad.
Bittercress has small heart-shaped or somewhat kidney-shaped leaves. The leaves are green and edible.
It comes up in the fall and stays quite small, and during it jumps forth. It is also called a shot seed because the capsule in it explodes and throws the seeds of the weed.
If you want to control these weeds you should get them when they are tiny. February would be the best, however, they will die naturally by June.
4.Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae)
Bermuda Buttercup is a highly invasive weed, that is native to South Africa. It has heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.
One cool thing about its yellow flowers is that you can grind them up and use them as a dye.
Although Buttercup is unable to produce seeds, still it is challenging to control them because of its ability to create continuous bulbs.
This weed is considered edible but in small quantities. I can’t come up with recipe ideas for it but you can let me know in the comments section.
5.Violet (Viola spp.)
Viola is another weed with heart-shaped leaves. Its leaves and flowers are edible and you can them raw or with garnish foods. You can also make tea with it.
Viola has blue-violet flowers and you can identify it from its sweet smell. It is valued for its benefits to the body.
One distinguishing feature of this weed is that the leaves and flowers arise from the same point.
6. Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil)
Morning Glory is another plant with heart shaped leaves that is native to Central America.
Its flowers are reddish-purple and are quite showy. The wild form of morning glory has smaller flowers and is blue.
It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and backyards. The fast-growing property of this plant and its ability to self-seeding comes in handy in hiding fences and walls.
In Japan, morning glory is introduced from China and is quite popular there. In summer big markets for these flowers are held in major cities of Japan.
7.Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
The leaves of this weed are somewhat kidney to heart-shaped. It is called henbit because hens prefer this nutritious plant over others.
It is native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. It has a sprawling habit and grows to a maximum of 18 inches in height.
Henbit is not native to the United States but is naturalized and is considered to play a beneficial role in the ecosystem.
8.Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
The leaves of wood sorrel have three heart-shaped leaflets. It is sometimes mistaken for clover, but unlike clover, its flowers have five uniform petals.
It is also called sour grass because it tastes very bad when chewed.
It is also hard to control. To get rid of it you need oil-based herbicides. Be careful to use the herbicide at the right time of the year, otherwise, you may damage your favorite grass.
FAQs
Is Poison Ivy heart shaped leaves?
Yes, the heart-shaped leaves of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) have heart-shaped leaves. Each leaf has three leaflets which are arranged in a compound manner. Do your research and be careful before using it.
What weed has heart shaped flowers?
A plant called bleeding heart is famous for its heart-shaped flowers. It is not considered a weed but is valued by garden owners for its aesthetics.
What is a weed with a heart shaped seed?
There are some trees with heart-shaped seeds, for example, Entada gigas. It belongs to the pea family and is also called monkey ladder or sea heart. However, I am unable to find any weed with a heart-shaped seed.
Final Thoughts
I hope you liked my list of weeds with heart-shaped leaves.
One thing that to note here is that the definition of weed is quite broad. You can mistake a weed for a plant.
While these plants possess a charming feature, it is important to exercise caution when incorporating them into your landscape. Some of these weeds can be highly invasive and detrimental to other plants.
Awareness of their vigorous nature is crucial in selecting the appropriate plants/weeds for your garden.
If you planning to design your backyard with any plant or weed, remember to carefully research and consider the nature of these plants to ensure a harmonious and well-balanced landscape.
