Heart-shaped leaves can add a lovely touch of romance and whimsy to any landscape. Deciduous trees with cordate, or heart-shaped, leaves come in many delightful varieties that are perfect for gardens large and small. With their distinctive foliage and often showy flowers or fruits, these trees provide year-round visual interest along with shelter and shade.
In this article, we will explore 10 of the most popular and easily-grown deciduous trees that have charming heart-shaped leaves. We’ll look at each tree’s appearance, growing needs, and landscape uses to help you pick the right ones for your yard.
Eastern Redbud
The eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a beautiful flower in the spring. It blooms in large groups of rosy pink flowers on bare branches before its heart-shaped leaves appear. When fully grown, this small native tree with many stems is 20 to 30 feet tall and wide. In the summer, the heart-shaped leaves are shiny and green. In the fall, they turn yellow.
Redbuds thrive in full sun to partial shade and adaptable to most soils Their relatively small size makes them ideal for use as specimen trees, in shrub borders or woodland gardens. Redbuds are also a larval host plant for the Henry’s elfin and olive hairstreak butterflies
American Linden
American linden (Tilia americana), also called American basswood is a large native tree growing up to 80 feet tall. It features heart-shaped leaves up to 6 inches long that turn golden yellow in fall. Clusters of small, fragrant yellowish flowers bloom in early summer.
American linden thrives in full sun and moist, fertile soil. It develops a dense, pyramidal to rounded crown and attracts pollinators with its flowers. Its large size makes it an excellent shade tree, while the fragrant flowers are used to make aromatic teas.
Southern Catalpa
Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a small to medium-sized tree adorned with huge, heart-shaped leaves up to 12 inches long and showy white flowers in early summer. It matures at 30-50 feet tall and wide. Long, bean-like seed pods add winter interest after the large leaves fall.
Catalpas grow quickly in full sun to partial shade, and they can handle most soils that drain well. Their fancy flowers and leaves that look like they belong in a tropical garden make them a beautiful specimen tree. Their big leaves and seed pods, on the other hand, can make a lot of litter.
Dove Tree
Also called the handkerchief tree, the dove tree (Davidia involucrata) is prized for its uniquely beautiful flowers. Each flower cluster consists of showy white bracts surrounding the small flowers, resembling fluttering doves or handkerchiefs. Heart-shaped leaves emerge after flowering, turning brilliant shades of red and orange in fall.
This small ornamental tree grows 20-40 feet tall and wide. It thrives in partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Dove trees look good as single plants or in groups for shade. It is one of the most unique small landscape trees because of its flowering bracts and branches that hang down gracefully.
Katsura Tree
The Cercidiphyllum japonicum, or Katsura tree, is a beautiful deciduous tree that has beautiful fall color. In the spring, its heart-shaped leaves are reddish-purple. By summer, they are blue-green, and in the fall, they turn bright shades of apricot, gold, and red. As the leaves change, they give off a lovely smell of burnt sugar.
Reaching 40-60 feet tall and wide, the katsura tree thrives in partial shade and consistently moist soil. Its multi-season appeal, graceful shape and fall fragrance make it a wonderful specimen tree. It also works well in borders and as a shade tree.
Quaking Aspen
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a cool weather-loving tree native to northern and western North America. It bears round, heart-shaped leaves on flexible petioles that tremble in the slightest breeze. Aspens bloom in spring with long catkins bearing tiny flowers. Their smooth white trunks and golden fall color provide year-round interest.
Aspens grow in clonal groves up to 50 feet tall and wide. They thrive in full sun and adaptable to varied sites and soils. Their quivering leaves, striking bark and dramatic fall color make aspens excellent specimen trees. They also work nicely in groups for borders and screening.
Japanese Tree Lilac
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is an ornamental small tree that blooms later than common lilacs, extending the season. Conical clusters of showy white flowers appear in early summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. It has heart-shaped green leaves that turn golden in fall.
This multi-stemmed tree grows 15-25 feet tall and wide. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil. Japanese tree lilac makes a great specimen plant and its late blooms help extend the spring floral display. Pruning is needed to maintain its attractive tree shape.
Littleleaf Linden
Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) is a popular medium-sized landscape tree, developing a dense, pyramidal shape 50-70 feet high and 35-50 feet wide. It bears small, heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow in fall. Clusters of fragrant yellow-white flowers bloom in early summer, giving way to attached winged nutlets.
Littleleaf linden is easily grown in average, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Its dense foliage provides ample shade, while its flowers produce a high-quality honey. It’s widely planted as a street and specimen shade tree, especially in urban areas where it tolerates pollution well.
Balsam Poplar
Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) is a fast-growing, cold hardy tree native to northern North America. Reaching 60-80 feet tall, it has aromatic, heart-shaped leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. The glossy green leaves have whitish undersides. It produces catkins bearing tiny flowers in early spring before leafout.
Balsam poplars thrive in full sun to partial shade and moist soils. They make excellent shade trees and grow well in cold climates. They also work nicely for screening and windbreaks. The only downside is the abundant cottony seeds produced in spring.
Italian Alder
Italian alder (Alnus cordata) is a handsome, fast-growing tree that tolerates both wet and drier soils. Oval, heart-shaped leaves are glossy green above and release a rustling sound when wind blows through them. Italian alder grows 40-50 feet tall and half as wide, with a pyramidal to columnar habit.
Italian alder thrives in full sun to partial shade. Its tidy shape, attractive foliage, adaptability and nitrogen-fixing capability make it ideal for street tree and landscape use. It also works well for screening, streamside planting and soil stabilization.
Conclusion
Deciduous trees with heart-shaped leaves come in diverse sizes, forms, foliage, flowers and textures to enhance any landscape. From small spring bloomers like redbud to large shade trees like littleleaf linden, these romantic trees provide four-season beauty along with wildlife habitat.
When choosing heart-leafed trees, make sure to select varieties suited to your growing zone and site conditions. Locate them where their form, flowers and other features can be appreciated. Then get ready to enjoy their grace and charm for many years to come.
Deciduous
Small little show stopper! Long lasting varied shades of pink flowers. Stunning pink to burgundy leave colour in fall! Prefers afternoon shade or filtered sun. Grows about 8’ in ten years and matures to 12-15’.
Multi-season appeal! Spring brings the emergence of soft, purple-red, heart shaped leaves that mature through the seasons with subtle colour changes to a crisp wine-red and then blue-green in summer. It turns a beautiful bright golden yellow with pinkish orange undertones in the fall. It grows to be 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Thoughtful pruning will encourages a MAGESTIC WINTER SILOUETTE!.
A beautiful specimen or shade tree that has won awards! It grows in a pyramidal to oval shape and is known for its beautiful flowers in late spring to early summer. They grow in round clusters and have two large, creamy-white flower bracts that can be up to 12 inches long. The flowers are truly spectacular, and the fruit is about the size of a golf ball and is a deep red color. The heart-shaped leaves (6 inches long) are a bright green and turns into a bright orange-red in fall. Exfoliating bark adds to winter interest! Grows 30-40 feet tall, 20-30 feet wide. Full sun to part shade.
An enchanting small tree with fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers (late spring). Grows 10-12 feet tall and 5 wide. Leaves emerges dark purple to olive green. Sun to part shade.
White pretty flowers in early summer, deep red berries in fall, attractive bark and fall colour! Important source of nectar for pollinators and valuable food source for birds. Excellent tiered branching! Umbrella shaped growth habit. Grows approximately 20-30’ tall and wide, Adaptable to poor soils, dry soil, salt spray, heat and drought. Full sun lover. Requires well drained soil.
Maturing to 20’ – 30‘ tall and wide. Flowers March – May. Noteworthy flowers and fall colour.
Excellent tree for near large buildings, along streets, next to patios. Tolerates full sun, appreciates late afternoon filtered sun or shade.
Small tree (grows approximately 20’ tall and wide) with brilliant, fragrant, “ fringe” flowers. Spectacular!
All the makings for a brilliant specimen tree! Layered horizontal branches with alternate leaves on upper surface and silvery-green beneath! Large leaves (5-8” long) turns a brilliant red in fall. Small black fruit in late summer is enjoyed by birds. Grows approximately 35‘ – 40’ tall. Sun to part shade, requires well drained soil.
A brilliant distinctive and refined pyramidal form that makes for a fantastic architectural structure!
40’ tall x 25’ wide.
Deer and rabbit resistant .
Fragrant white flowers, showy pink calyces, exfoliating bark! An award winning shrub/tree loved by pollinators. Grows approximately 12-15’ tall x 8-10’ wide. Plant in full sun or part shade.
Fragrant, delicate looking flowers, on a narrow, weeping habit. Grows approximately 8-10’ tall, 4-5’ wide, creating a very elegant, glowing look. Bright and cheery lemon yellow in fall! Full sun to part shade. Flowers by hummingbirds. Container friendly tree.
DECIDUOUS AND EVERGREEN LEAVES | Educational Video for Kids
FAQ
What deciduous tree has heart-shaped leaves?
Discover More Information On Northern Catalpa – With its upright form and heart-shaped leaves, this tree brings elegance to any space.
What are the heart-shaped leaves called?
Hoya(Hoya spp. This plant is called Hoya heart, Valentine plant, or Sweetheart plant because it looks like a heart.
What tree has a red heart shaped leaf?
Burgundy Hearts Redbud Trees are one of a kind because they have heart-shaped, shimmering reddish-purple leaves that stay colorful all season, even in full sun. The pink-lavender flowers appear before the leaves in early spring.
What deciduous tree with heart shaped leaves and small fragrant yellow flowers?
Description: Syringa vulgaris ‘Primrose’ is a bushy deciduous tree with heart shaped leaves and small panicles of fragrant, single, pale primrose yellow blooms. These blooms, which are carried in large, rounded trusses, intensify as the plant matures, giving a more dramatic show of richer flowers each year.
What trees have heart-shaped leaves?
Trees with heart-shaped leaves can be beautiful additions to a garden landscape. Attractive trees like redbuds, lindens, and catalpas have leafy foliage shaped like hearts. These ornamental trees are aesthetically pleasing, bloom with fragrant flowers, and provide shade in gardens.
What is a heart shaped tree?
The heart-shaped leaves of trees, which are also known as cordiform or cordate leaves, give your yard a new look and feel. While many types of trees have palmate (hand-shaped) or lobed leaves, not as many have heart-shaped foliage. There’s a tree with heart-shaped leaves for every yard and climate, from the far north to the tropics.
Are heart shaped trees evergreen?
The heart-shaped leaves are evergreen in tropical climates. This classic flowering tree of spring is easy to identify. Its branches are studded with small, rosey-pink flowers before the first leaves appear. Once the leaves take over, the tree remains attractive, as this heart-shaped foliage maintains a dark green color throughout summer.
What do heart-shaped leaves look like?
The outstanding feature of these trees are their heart-shaped leaves. The leaves emerge reddish-purple in spring, mature to blue-green, and turn orange, gold, and red shades in the fall. An added bonus to their beauty is their sweet aromas.
What benefits do trees with heart-shaped leaves provide?
When you plant a tree, whether it has heart-shaped leaves or not, you provide local wildlife with additional housing and more food. So consider growing one of these trees with heart-shaped leaves in your backyard. You’ll dress up your landscape and support your local ecosystem all at the same time.
Should you plant a tree with heart-shaped leaves?
Planting a tree with heart-shaped leaves can be a great idea. It will dress up your landscape and support your local ecosystem by providing additional housing and more food for local wildlife.