By Karen Weir-Jimerson
Do you have a plant that you need help identifying? Specific characteristics, such as the leaf shape, texture, or color, can help you figure out what the plant is.
'My Heart' hedera, as its name implies, bears large heart-shape leaves. In fact, most ivies have heart-shape leaves that come in dark or light green or variegated with cream or white. See our ivy collections here.
This type of monstera is commonly called Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron (even though it's not a philodendron). Monstera deliciosa features large, heart-shape leaves with dramatic cuts. See our Monstera selections here.
Teddy bear vine features small tear-drop-shape fuzzy chocolate-brown leaves on spreading or trailing stems. The soft texture of its foliage gives rise to its common name, teddy bear vine. See more about this vine here.
Although the leaf shape may not be the first thing you notice about zebra plant (it’s the stripes you’ll see first), Zebra plant has large tear-drop-shape leaves. Read more about Zebra Plant.
There are several peperomia that feature this distinctive shape leaf. Peperomia perciliata offers small, heart-shape leaves borne on red stems. It's an ideal plant for terrariums and hanging baskets. Peperomia scandens 'Variegata' is also called Variegated cupid peperomia because of its heart-shape light green leaves edged in creamy gold. See more about peperomia here.
Pothos has heart-shape leaves. This plant is often mis-identified as philodendron. See the difference here. Pothos is a perfect houseplant for beginners. This hardy indoor plant features a variety of leaf colorations. See how to identify the different Pothos varieties here.
Although not all philodendron have heart-shape leaves, many do. Philodendron brandtianum ‘Brandi’ is a beautiful heart-shape species with rich green leaves marbled in silver. Green Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceu) has dark green, heart-shape leaves and is excellent for hanging baskets. See our selection of philodendron here.
Pilea Sharing Plant™ has distinctive round leaves that look like little umbrellas or lilypads (some even say flying saucers!). A relatively small indoor plant, it doesn't usually grow much larger than 18 inches tall and wide, making it perfect for displaying on desks and tabletops. Read about Pilea Sharing Plant
Most plants in this family feature heart-shape (or arrowhead-shape leaves) in dark and light green. See all our arrowheads here.
Silver Limbo is a compact, small-leafed variety that offers beautiful metallic-silver foliage that has purple-red backsides. Begonia 'Angel Wing' Angel Wing begonia is an upright-growing variety that has wing-shaped leaves spotted in silver and red flowers. It can grow 2 feet tall. Read more about Rex begonia here.
This plant is a close relative of hoya and has some of the same leaf shapes. Dischidia ruscifolia is commonly called Million hearts; the small, heart-shaped leaves clasp the plant's trailing stems. Dischidia nummularia, also called String of Nickles features small, round leaves running up and down the stems. And Dischidia pectinoides has round, balloon-like leaves that are hollow. Read more about dischidia here.
Hoya, also called wax plant, has firm glossy leaves that come in a variety of shapes. Hoya kerrii is commonly called Hoya heart, Valentine plant, or Sweetheart plant because of its heart-shape form. Each leaf looks like a little green heart; this plant is commonly sold with one heart-shape leaf planted in a small pot. Other hoya leaves that are tear-shape include Hoya kentiana, Hoya multiflora, and Hoya carnosa. Hoya curtisii has round leaves. See our hoyas here.
The round leaves of Flapjack kalanchoe are recognizable not only by their shape but their fleshy feel. Here are more plants with fleshy leaves.
Do you have a plant that you need help identifying? Specific characteristics, such as the leaf shape, texture, or color, can help you figure out what the plant is.
Are the leaves roundish, heart-shape, or teardrop-shape? Many plants have roundish or heart-shape leaves and this can characteristic can be a clue to what the plant is.
The botanical Latin names of plant can give you a hint. For example, plants with rotundifolia (which means round-leaved) or some form of the word cordate (which means heart-shape) may help you figure out your plant’s identity.Here are some popular houseplants with round or heart-shape leaves.
Ivy (Hedera helix)
'My Heart' hedera, as its name implies, bears large heart-shape leaves. In fact, most ivies have heart-shape leaves that come in dark or light green or variegated with cream or white. See our ivy collections here.
Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
This type of monstera is commonly called Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron (even though it's not a philodendron). Monstera deliciosa features large, heart-shape leaves with dramatic cuts. See our Monstera selections here.
Teddy Bear Vine (Cyanotis kewensis)
Teddy bear vine features small tear-drop-shape fuzzy chocolate-brown leaves on spreading or trailing stems. The soft texture of its foliage gives rise to its common name, teddy bear vine. See more about this vine here.
Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
Although the leaf shape may not be the first thing you notice about zebra plant (it’s the stripes you’ll see first), Zebra plant has large tear-drop-shape leaves. Read more about Zebra Plant.
Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)
There are several peperomia that feature this distinctive shape leaf. Peperomia perciliata offers small, heart-shape leaves borne on red stems. It's an ideal plant for terrariums and hanging baskets. Peperomia scandens 'Variegata' is also called Variegated cupid peperomia because of its heart-shape light green leaves edged in creamy gold. See more about peperomia here.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos has heart-shape leaves. This plant is often mis-identified as philodendron. See the difference here. Pothos is a perfect houseplant for beginners. This hardy indoor plant features a variety of leaf colorations. See how to identify the different Pothos varieties here.
Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
Although not all philodendron have heart-shape leaves, many do. Philodendron brandtianum ‘Brandi’ is a beautiful heart-shape species with rich green leaves marbled in silver. Green Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceu) has dark green, heart-shape leaves and is excellent for hanging baskets. See our selection of philodendron here.
Pilea (Pilea peperomoides)
Pilea Sharing Plant™ has distinctive round leaves that look like little umbrellas or lilypads (some even say flying saucers!). A relatively small indoor plant, it doesn't usually grow much larger than 18 inches tall and wide, making it perfect for displaying on desks and tabletops. Read about Pilea Sharing Plant
Arrowhead ( Syngonium podophyllum)
Most plants in this family feature heart-shape (or arrowhead-shape leaves) in dark and light green. See all our arrowheads here.
Rex begonia (Begonia rex)
Silver Limbo is a compact, small-leafed variety that offers beautiful metallic-silver foliage that has purple-red backsides. Begonia 'Angel Wing' Angel Wing begonia is an upright-growing variety that has wing-shaped leaves spotted in silver and red flowers. It can grow 2 feet tall. Read more about Rex begonia here.
Dischidia (Dischidia spp.)
This plant is a close relative of hoya and has some of the same leaf shapes. Dischidia ruscifolia is commonly called Million hearts; the small, heart-shaped leaves clasp the plant's trailing stems. Dischidia nummularia, also called String of Nickles features small, round leaves running up and down the stems. And Dischidia pectinoides has round, balloon-like leaves that are hollow. Read more about dischidia here.
Hoya(Hoya spp.)
Hoya, also called wax plant, has firm glossy leaves that come in a variety of shapes. Hoya kerrii is commonly called Hoya heart, Valentine plant, or Sweetheart plant because of its heart-shape form. Each leaf looks like a little green heart; this plant is commonly sold with one heart-shape leaf planted in a small pot. Other hoya leaves that are tear-shape include Hoya kentiana, Hoya multiflora, and Hoya carnosa. Hoya curtisii has round leaves. See our hoyas here.
Flapjack Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe thyrisflora)
The round leaves of Flapjack kalanchoe are recognizable not only by their shape but their fleshy feel. Here are more plants with fleshy leaves.
