Vines with Heart-Shaped Leaves
When you're looking for the right climbing vine to accent your landscaping plan, consider the visual impact of vines with heart-shaped leaves. A distinctive heart-shaped leaf attracts the eye, and many vines with heart-shaped leaves also feature richly-hued blooms or interesting color variations in their foliage. Add heart-shaped leaves to your garden with a carefully chosen vine that is well suited to the growing conditions in your region.
Black-eyed Susan Vines
The first suggestion for vines with heart-shaped leaves would be the Black-eyed Susan Vine, otherwise known as the Thunbergia alata. It has bold, golden flowers with black centers. Throughout the summer and into autumn these beautiful colors offset the lush heart-shaped leaves on this annual vine.
Climbing Hydrangea
The Climbing Hydrangea, or the Hydrangea anomala petiolaris, is a versatile shade-loving plant. This variety of hydrangea can serve as ground cover or climb up a brick or wooden structure by means of its aerial rootlets. Spring and summer bring clusters of lacy white flowers, and the deep green heart-shaped leaves can last into late autumn.
Japanese Grape
Next is the Japanese Grape, or the Vitis Coignitiae. This sturdy climbing vine has pointed heart-shaped leaves that turn brilliant shades of red in the fall. For best results, plant the Japanese grape in USDA hardiness zones 5 and higher.
Morning Glory and Moonflower
The Morning Glory and Moonflower, from the genus Ipomoea, have large flowers in variations of blue, purple and white. These flowers burst forth among climbing tendrils of heart-shaped leaves. Ipomoea vines can be hardy annuals or tender perennials, depending on the zone in which they are planted.
Persian Ivy
Persian Ivy, or Hedera colchica, grow different cultivars of Persian ivy together for a visually arresting array of variegated heart-shaped foliage. The Persian ivies do best where winters are milder, with temperatures rarely staying below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Variegated Kiwi Vine
Variegated Kiwi Vine, or Actinidia kolomikta, has green leaves that range from a pointed oval to a true heart shape. These display splashes of pink and cream on the sun-loving, fruit-bearing woody climber that also sports white flowers in the summertime. Kiwi plants come in separate male and female varieties. For the most ornamental foliage, choose male plants. If you wish to cultivate fruit, plant at least three or four females for every male.
All of these unique vines will compliment your outdoor space with their beautiful, heart-shaped leaves.
