20 Common Vines with Heart-Shaped Leaves

Close up of two hands of a girl tying the vines of a betel leaf plant, piper betle in a betel farm with beautiful green betel leaves in daylight and blur background
Bapida/Shutterstock.com

Written by Kathleen Marshall

Updated: September 11, 2023

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Vines with heart-shaped leaves will add beauty and a touch of romance to your home or garden. It’s also fun to mix plants with leaves of various shapes and sizes to create texture in your plant arrangements. Check out these beautiful vines with heart-shaped leaves and try to choose just one!  

1. Pothos

A global green pothos in a pot against a white background

Native to French Polynesia is pothos, a common houseplant that, surprisingly, is not of the genus

Pothos

.

Pothos, Epipremnum aureum, sometimes called devil’s ivy, is a popular, low-maintenance houseplant with beautiful green, yellow, or variegated leaves. It prefers full sun to partial shade and slightly acidic, moist, but well-drained soil.

These gorgeous plants often grow 12 to 18 inches a month under optimal conditions. When mature, they can be 20 to 40 feet long. But don’t worry, you can easily train it to grow on a support so it won’t take over your house. If you choose to add one of these beauties to your home, keep in mind that they are toxic to dogs and cats.

2. String of Hearts

Ceropegia woodii, string of hearts

String of hearts is native to South

Africa

and is an excellent plant for beginners.

The Latin name for the string of hearts plant is Ceropegia woodii. It may surprise you that this plant is related to milkweed.

Many treasure string of hearts for its lovely gray-green succulent foliage and purplish vines that cascade down from its container. It can grow up to 12 feet long and does best in filtered sun. If you live in USDA garden zones 9 through 12, you can also grow it outdoors as a lovely groundcover.

As a succulent, it doesn’t need as much water as some other houseplants, but it does appreciate deep watering with time to dry out between waterings.

3. Sweetheart Hoya

sweetheart hoya leaves

Sweetheart hoya is a SE Asia native that is hard to resist.

The sweetheart hoya, or Hoya kerrii, is another vining succulent plant. Their adorable heart-shaped leaves make them a popular gift around Valentine’s Day, and their ease of care makes them beloved as a houseplant.

Sweetheart hoya vine does best with full sun and well-drained, acidic soil. Its woody vines can grow up to 13 feet long but are slow-growing. Not an overly finicky plant, the sweetheart hoya only needs water every two or three weeks. Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings.

4. Bleeding Heart Vine

Bleeding Heart Vine,Broken Heart, Bag Flower, flower of magic flower

Glory bower is another name for the bleeding heart vine.

Clerodendrum thomsoniae, commonly called bleeding heart vine, is a real show-stopper with its large clusters of red, pink, white, yellow, or orange flowers. This vine with heart-shaped leaves loves full sun and grows best in moist, well-drained soil.

Bleeding heart vine grows actively in the spring and summer and, during this time, will need regular watering to ensure the soil doesn’t dry out. At the same time, don’t allow the soil to become soggy either. Typically, this plant will require weekly watering.

Don’t be surprised if your plant seems to die back a bit during the winter, as this is its normal dormant time. Keep these plants out of direct sunlight from mid-November to mid-February. Only water the soil when it is dry after the new growth has begun.

5. Morning Glory

Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'

Morning glory vines attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

The beautiful morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea, has heart-shaped leaves and brightly colored trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom all summer long. This is not a houseplant, but instead, an eye-catching garden vine that grows in almost any garden zone (2-11). 

You’ll appreciate its easy care, too. There’s no need to prune or deadhead spent flowers. Just give your morning glory a sturdy trellis to climb and moist, well-drained soil in full sun, and it will reward you with a stunning display of flowers from summer through fall.

6. Dutchman’s Pipe

Aristolochia littoralis plant or elegant Dutchman's pipe. Aristolochiaceae family

As unique as its flowers are, Dutchman pipe’s dense leaves are what most attract people.

Dutchman’s pipe, Aristolochia macrophylla, is a woody, flowering vine. Gardeners prize it for its dense foliage, which can create a privacy screen, and its exotic yellow, green, or purple flowers.

You can easily grow this vine from seed in full or partial sun and well-drained, moist soil. It’s a vigorous grower, so give it plenty of space and a strong support, but don’t be afraid to prune it in the early spring to keep it from getting out of hand.

7. Purple Bell Vine

Pink flowers of the Purple Bell Vine also called Black Mans Willie (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus)

Native to Mexico is the purple bell vine, a vigorous climber of a plant.

Purple bell vine, Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, provides beautiful, pendulous flowers similar to those of Fuchsia plants. It likes partial to full sun and moist, well-drained soil, but it also appreciates a bit of afternoon shade in very hot weather. A versatile vine, the purple bell vine does equally well in hanging containers and on trellises, so you can get creative in your garden placement.

Because the purple bell vine is native to Mexico, it is only hardy in zones 10 through 12. However, it is easily grown from seed, so you can grow it in your garden as an annual.

8. Heartleaf Philodendron

Heartleaf Philodendron hederaceum

With proper care, a heartleaf philodendron can live for many years.

Heartleaf philodendron, Philodendron hederaceum, is sometimes called the sweetheart plant. It’s a well-loved houseplant that can easily be propagated via cuttings, so you can spread the love around. 

This vine prefers bright, indirect light and looks gorgeous in a hanging basket or growing on an indoor trellis. Ensure that its soil has peat moss or perlite for the best drainage, and allow it to dry out between waterings. Yellowing leaves are an indication of over-watering.

9. Rex Begonia Vine

Close up and selective focus of Sirih Keraton Leaves or Cissus discolor or the Rex Begonia Vine.  found in Southeast Asia in China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The rex begonia vine is sometimes called a tapestry vine.

The rex begonia vine, Cissus discolor, has beautifully unique heart-shaped leaves that are hard to ignore with their green and white variegations and burgundy edges. This stunning vine grows happily indoors if you place it in bright, indirect light and water when the soil feels dry.

Alternatively, you can put your rex begonia vine outside in the summer months and keep it indoors in winter. In this case, water your outdoor plant regularly, but cut back in the winter months while the plant is dormant.

10. Betel Leaf Plant

Close up of two hands  of a girl tying the vines of a betel leaf plant, piper betle in a betel farm with beautiful green betel leaves in daylight and blur background

The glossy leaves of the betel leaf plant make it highly prized.

The betel leaf plant, Piper betle, is actually a member of the black pepper family. Its glossy green leaves make it a beautiful climbing houseplant that prefers filtered light and moist, well-drained soil. 

In Asia, this plant is grown both for food and medicine. There, it is planted outdoors, where it grows quickly and benefits from regular pruning. 

11. Sweet Potato Vine

beautiful foliage of dark red and lemon green sweet potato vines

Since they grow well in sun or shade, sweet potato vines are particularly hearty plants.

Sweet potato vines, Ipomoea batatas, are ornamental plants related to the edible sweet potato. It prefers warm, humid weather, full sun, and moist, well-drained soil. While this beautiful vine with heart-shaped leaves is only hardy in zones 9 through 11, you can easily grow it from cuttings. 

This means you can snip a piece of the vine in the fall before it dies back and root it in a glass of water in the house. This cutting will grow happily this way until the weather warms, and you can plant it outdoors in your garden.

12. Swiss Cheese Plant

closeup monstera obliqua

If you think you have found a

Monstera adansonii

, prepare to pay top dollar for it.

The Swiss cheese plant, Monstera adansonii, gets its name from the holes that form in its large, heart-shaped leaves, reminiscent of Swiss cheese. It likes bright, indirect light and moist, well-drained soil. 

This is a low-maintenance houseplant that only needs to be watered when the top of the soil feels dry. Because it likes high humidity, you should occasionally mist the leaves, particularly in the winter when homes tend to be dry.

13. Velvet Philodendron

Philodendron Gloriosum growing wild in the rain forest. Green velvet, white vein, heart shape, rainforest foliage, huge leaf. Suitable for indoor plant.

The velvet philodendron is a slow-growing plant.

Philodendron gloriosum, commonly called velvet philodendron, has large, heart-shaped foliage that lends a tropical look to any room. This is an easy-to-grow plant, even for beginners, which only adds to its already broad appeal.

This vining plant prefers bright, indirect light, moist, well-drained soil, and high humidity. Consider misting it occasionally or using a humidifier in the room where it is kept. 

14. Guduchi

Tinospora cordifolia local name guduchi, and giloy, is an herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae indigenous to the tropical areas of India use as Ayurveda medicine

The roots, stems, and leaves of guduchi are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Guduchi, Tinospora cordifolia, is known by many names, including heart-leafed moonseed, giloy vine, and amrita. It is a lovely climbing vine with a woody stem, traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. You can enjoy it as a beautiful landscape plant in zones 10 through 12 or indoors as a houseplant in a cooler climate.

15. Hawaiian Baby Woodrose

elephant creeper

The Hawaiian baby woodrose is also called the

elephant

creeper.

Argyreia nervosa, commonly called Hawaiian baby woodrose or elephant creeper, thrives in tropical climates. It has large, heart-shaped leaves and beautiful light purple trumpet-shaped flowers. Its leaves can grow to a foot long.  

This vine likes a sunny spot with moist, well-drained soil. It grows best when outdoors in tropical zones but can also be grown indoors.

16. Climbing Hydrangea

Hydrangea petiolaris, a climbing hydrangea (syn: Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris)

Due to its shaggy-looking bark, climbing hydrangea is even attractive in the winter.

Climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala, is a beautiful addition to any landscape. Its heart-shaped leaves and delicate white flowers add a touch of elegance wherever it is planted. And it doesn’t even need a trellis as the branches of this vine can hold on to whatever structure it is growing against.

Give your climbing hydrangea full to partial sun and moist, well-drained soil, and it will thrive in zones 4 through 7.

17. Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Thunbergia alata - Flower poet's eye, black-eyed Susan vine with trellis

Poet’s eye is another name for black-eyed Susan vine.

Have you ever seen a black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata)? This annual flowering vine makes beautiful hanging baskets but is equally stunning gracing a trellis or fence. It prefers full sun and rich, well-drained soil that is kept moderately moist. 

In zones 10 and 11, this plant can be grown as a perennial vine, but it makes a wonderful annual in other garden zones. Or, pot them up and bring them indoors for the winter.

18. Velvetleaf Philodendron

Tropical 'Philodendron Hederaceum Micans' houseplant with heart shaped leaves with velvet texture in gray flower pot on coffee table

Velvetleaf philodendron can be easily pruned if it gets out of hand.

Another philodendron, the velvetleaf philodendron (Philodendron micans), is a popular houseplant because of its soft, velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Enjoy it hanging or potted with a trellis or other support for it to climb.

It prefers partial sun and loamy, moist, well-drained soil. If your home is particularly dry, consider adding a humidifier to the room where you keep your velvetleaf philodendron. 

19. Heart Leaf Fern

A small house plant Hemionitis Arifolia, in a white pot isolated on grey background, with space for text.

Another name for the heart leaf fern is tongue fern.

Heart leaf fern, Hemionitis arifolia, is not technically a vine but an epiphyte, which means it grows on top of other plants or trees without parasitizing them. It is an evergreen perennial that prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It also likes bright, indirect sunlight.

20. Arrowhead Vine

Syngonium Albo variegated leaf close up in isolated black background. White Variegation leaf. Syngonium Albo Variegata.

Syngonium comes in so many varieties, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose one.

Syngonium is more commonly called arrowhead vine or arrowhead plant. This very versatile plant can be trained to grow in many ways. It comes in an assortment of varieties, making it tempting to collect them.

Good thing they are easy to care for! They prefer medium to full indirect light and rich, well-drained soil that should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Consider adding a humidifier to the room for extra happy plants.

Adding Common Vines with Heart-Shaped Leaves to Your Home

Whether you are landscaping or looking for new houseplants to add to your collection, these 20 common vines with heart-shaped leaves are sure to include something you can’t live without. Before making your selections, make sure to assess your climate and growing conditions to ensure that you pick a plant that will thrive. A small amount of research can mean all the difference between garden success and failure.

Summary of 20 Vines with Heart-Shaped Leaves

RankCommon NameScientific Name
1PothosEpipremnum aureum
2String of HeartsCeropegia woodii
3Sweetheart HoyaHoya kerrii
4Bleeding Heart VineClerodendrum thomsoniae
5Morning GloryIpomoea purpurea
6Dutchman’s PipeAristolochia macrophylla
7Purple Bell VineRhodochiton atrosanguineus
8Heartleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron hederaceum
9Rex Begonia VineCissus discolor
10Betel Leaf PlantPiper betle
11Sweet Potato VineIpomoea batatas
12Swiss Cheese PlantMonstera adansonii
13Velvet Philodendron Philodendron gloriosum
14GuduchiTinospora cordifolia
15Hawaiian Baby WoodroseArgyreia nervosa
16Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea anomala
17Black Eyed Susan VineThunbergia alata
18Velvetleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron micans
19Heart Leaf Fern Hemionitis arifolia
20Arrowhead VineSyngonium


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About the Author

Kathleen Marshall

Kathleen Marshall is a master gardener, animal lover, and general worshipper of nature. She has been writing and editing since 1996 and when she's not working, she's playing with her two dogs, talking to her always-hungry koi, or spending time in her garden gathering plants for nourishment, medicine, and magic.

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