Heart-shaped Houseplants

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Looking for an interesting gift for that special someone? Maybe you want to add a little more romance and whimsy to your indoor space. Well, look no further than the world of heart-shaped houseplants. Ranging from a close heart resemblance to an unmistakable connection, and with a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and care difficulties, you’re bound to find the perfect plant for you on this list.

1. Epipremnum aureum

Commonly known as pothos or devil’s ivy, this climber is one of the most popular houseplants around the world. Beloved for its easy-care nature and ability to tolerate plenty of neglect, pothos is the ideal heart-shaped houseplant for beginners. Some cultivars have more pronounced heart-shapes and come with interesting variegation patterns, ensuring there is always something interesting to look at. Look out for the ‘Glacier’ cultivar, which has a dramatic heart shape and white or cream stripes of variegation.

2. Cyclamen persicum

Commonly known as the Persian cyclamen, this flowering beauty always offers something interesting to look at. If it’s not the colourful blooms in pink, red and white that emerge above the leaves when given the right amount of light, it’s the heart-shaped houseplant’s foliage with touches of silver in interesting patterns. The heart shape is more subtle with rounded edges, giving the entire plant a softer look.

3. Ceropegia woodii

Another houseplant describing its shape in its common name, the string of hearts is incredibly popular around Valentine’s Day – and it’s not hard to see why. This vine sports cute heart-shaped leaves with interesting veining on pinkish-purple stems that perfectly complement the plant’s romantic look. The marbled leaves are quite thick and hold plenty of water, making them ideal plants for forgetful plant parents. Place it in a bright spot to bring out the deeper green colour and potentially see some blooms come spring.

READ MORE: Learn more about cyclamens here!

4. Scindapsus

A genus of plants closely related to other trailing plants like pothos or heartleaf philodendron, Scindapsus is the perfect hanging plant for indoor gardens. The most popular species, Scindapsus pictus, has heart-shaped leaves with a silvery sheen that give it the common name of satin pothos (despite not actually being a true pothos). While there are species with plain leaves, most come with some level of silver variegation to make your indoor garden truly shine.

5. Hemionitis arifolia

There is also an option for fern-lovers looking for heart-shaped leaves in their home – the heart leaf fern. This fern has one of the most distinctive heart-shaped leaves on the list, emerging as they do from the soil on thin stems. Hemionitis arifolia is a cute plant that remains compact, and is an ideal gift for that someone special in your life. Place it in a bathroom or near a water source in your kitchen to take advantage of the higher humidity that allows these romantic plants to thrive.

6. Anthurium andraeanum

Any houseplant veteran will already know the famous ‘flowers’ of Anthurium andraeanum, commonly called flamingo flower or painter’s palette. The colourful ‘flowers’ are actually modified leaves that surround the true flower, the spadix in the centre. Both these modified leaves and the regular green leaves of the plant have a subtle heart shape. That, combined with the many colours these plants come in (from traditional classic red to blush pink and even watermelon), makes them irresistible to any indoor gardener.

READ MORE: Want to know more about Anthuriums?

7. Hoya kerrii

This species is undoubtedly one of the most interesting hoyas on the market. The long, trailing vines feature large semi-succulent leaves in an almost perfect heart shape. These leaves can also survive for quite a while when planted on their own, so are often sold in small individual pots as Valentine’s Day gifts. They are also available with interesting variegation patterns that make the foliage anything but one-note. These hoyas, however, may be hard to find, so if you see one, zap it up.

8. Philodendron scandens

Of all the plants with heart-shaped leaves, this one cements its status in its common name – heartleaf philodendron. Usually labelled as Philodendron scandens in nurseries, you may also come across this plant by its synonym, Philodendron hederaceum. This Philodendron is among the easiest to grow and care for, with deeply heart-shaped leaves in a range of interesting colours. Most are deep green, but some cultivars like ‘Brazil’ feature patches of bright colour bound to turn heads.