Looking to add a romantic touch to your garden with some stunning flowers that look like hearts? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Flower species with heart-shaped outlines or petals include Bleeding Hearts, Flamingo Flower, Macartney Rose, Dutchman’s Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Potentilla nepalensis, Hooker’s Evening Primrose, New Guinea impatiens, Australian Hollyhock, Potentilla recta, Petrorhagia dubia, Common Tormentil, and Multiflora Rose.
If you want to learn more about the key features and characteristics of these gorgeous blooms, all you need to do is keep reading!
1. Bleeding Hearts
- Family: Papaveraceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9
The first flowers on today’s list have got to be the Bleeding Hearts. Botanically known as Lamprocapnos spectabilis, these plants belong to the Dicentra genus and they produce flowers that look like little heart pendants dangling from the stems.
The “blood” part of the name refers to the pair of spurs sticking out of the bottom of each flower, making it look like a heart with blood droplets seeping out.
Other common names for Bleeding Hearts include Lady’s Locket, Lady-in-a-Boat, Tearing Hearts, Lyre Flower, and Chinese Pants.
Bleeding Hearts are native to eastern Asia, specifically Japan and Korea. They’re thought of as a symbol of love, romance, passions, purity, and sacrifice.
These plants thrive in shade and prefer rich, moist soil. Their blossoms are typically shades of pink, red, or white.
2. Flamingo Flower
- Family: Araceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
The Flamingo Flower is a member of the Anthurium genus, which includes more than 1,000 species of plants. Other common names for the Flamingo Flower include Laceleaf, Flamingo Lily, and Tailflower.
One look at a Flamingo Flower and you’ll get what all the fuss is about. These plants possess an unusual look consisting of large heart-shaped flowers with tail-like spikes.
However, most people have it wrong. The spikes (spadix) are the actual flowers while the heart-shaped “flowers” are in reality modified leaves.
Flamingo Flowers come in red, pink, white, yellow, purple, and green with contrasting spikes. They thrive in bright, indirect light and a moist but well-drained potting mix.
3. Macartney Rose
- Family: Rosaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Botanically known as Rosa bracteata, the Macartney Rose is a thorny plant that delicate fragrant blooms. These flowers possess 5 white heart-shaped petals with a yellow central disk.
Other species of the Macartney Rose come in shades of yellow, cream, burgundy, orange, red, pink, and purples.
The Macartney Rose does best in full sun and moist, clay soil. Widely considered invasive, this plant can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide.
To keep your Macartney Rose under control, yearly pruning is a must.
4. Dutchman’s Breeches
- Family: Papaveraceae
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Dutchman’s Breeches is a flowering plant that’s indigenous to North America, particularly the United States.
It’s referred to as Dicentra cucullaria in the botanical scene and its common names include Staggerweed and Little Blue Staggers.
Dutchman’s Breeches produce unique flowers that look like elongated hearts. Their petals are often described as V-shaped or upside-down pantaloons.
These blooms come in shades of white and pink. They can grow as tall and wide as 1 foot.
Dutchman’s Breeches are easy to care for as long as you provide proper conditions. They thrive in shady spots and moist but well-drained soil.
5. Squirrel Corn
- Family: Papaveraceae
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Native to central and eastern North America, Squirrel Corn is botanically referred to as Dicentra canadensis. These plants share many similarities with the bleeding heart that they were once belonging to the same genus.
Squirrel Corn plants produce lacy leaves and lovely heart-shaped blooms that hang from the stems by thin stalks. The flowers are mostly white or pink shades.
Squirrel Corn plants can grow as tall and wide as 1 foot. They’re members of the poppy family, so they’re toxic to people and animals just like the Bleeding Heart and Dutchman’s Breeches.
Squirrel Corn does best in shady conditions as too much direct sun can hinder flowering. It prefers rich, moist but well-drained soil.
Read more: Why Do Peace Lily Flowers Turn Green?
6. Potentilla nepalensis
- Family: Rosaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
Potentilla nepalensis is the botanical name of a clump-forming flowering plant commonly known as Nepalese cinquefoil. It’s indigenous to eastern Asia and the western Himalayas, from Pakistan to Nepal.
Potentilla nepalensis feature strawberry-like leaves and dainty flowers with 5 heart-shaped petals. These blooms come in dark shades of red and pink.
The Nepalese cinquefoil can attract butterflies and is a terrific addition to garden beds, rock gardens, borders, and cottage gardens.
Rarely suffering from disease or pests, Nepalese cinquefoil plants can grow as tall and wide as 2 feet. Low maintenance, they thrive in full or partial sun and moist but well-drained soil.
7. Hooker’s Evening Primrose
- Family: Onagraceae
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
Hooker’s Evening Primrose is known as Oenothera elata in the botanical scene. Other common names for it include Hairy Evening Primrose, Marsh Evening Primrose, and Western Evening Primrose.
Originating in central and western North America, Hooker’s Evening Primrose produces showy flowers with 4 large petals that look like flowers. These blooms have a sweet fragrance and come in a bright yellow color.
Unlike most flowers that open with the sunrise, Hooker’s Evening Primroses are nocturnal. This means they open at night, which is when pollinators such as moths, butterflies, and bees drop by.
Hooker’s Evening Primroses can grow as tall as 5 feet and as wide as 3 feet. They’re low maintenance, doing best in full or partial sun and moist but well-drained soil.
8. New Guinea impatiens
- Family: Balsaminaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall, winter
- Life Cycle: Annual, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Botanically referred to as Impatiens hawkeri, the New Guinea impatiens is a widely popular species of flowering plant that hail from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
New Guinea impatiens plants produce dense clumps of foliage with pointed leaves. They’re characterized by showy, large flowers carrying 5 petals that look like hearts.
These fragrant blooms come in many shades including orange, pink, purple, red, and white.
New Guinea impatiens are fast growers, reaching a maximum height of 1.5 feet and a maximum spread of about 9 inches. They’re ideal for numb thumbs thanks to their impressively low maintenance and high performance.
New Guinea impatiens thrive in full or partial sun and moist but well-drained soil. They can attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
9. Australian Hollyhock
- Family: Malvaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Native to Australia, the Australian Hollyhock or Native Hollyhock is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Malva genus. It’s botanically known as Malva preissiana, Malva australiana, or Lavatera plebeia.
Australian Hollyhock plants possess deep green foliage with hairy leaves and prominent veins. They bloom out into large, showy flowers with 5 petals that look like hearts surrounding a yellowish center.
Australian Hollyhock blossoms come in various shades of pink, purple, lilac, mauve, and white. They are great for attracting butterflies and bees.
This plant can reach a maximum height and spread of about 10 feet. Its optimal growth conditions include full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
Related: Why Are the Leaves on My Roses Turning Yellow?
10. Petrorhagia dubia
- Family: Caryophyllaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
Hailing from central and southern Europe, Petrorhagia dubia (previously known as Petrorhagia velutina) is the botanical name for the flower commonly referred to as Hairy Pink.
Hairy Pink plants possess long, erect stalks that carry delicate flowers on top. These blooms are surrounded by brownish, paper-like leaves and feature 5 petals that are lobed to look like hearts.
Hairy Pink flowers come in various shades of pale pink, bright pink, lavender, and magenta. The petals are adorned with darker veins.
This plant can reach a maximum height of 3 feet and a spread of 2 feet. It’s rather low maintenance (widely considered as weeds), thriving in full sun and overcoming rocky conditions.
11. Multiflora Rose
- Family: Rosaceae
- Bloom Time: Summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Perennial, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Multiflora Rose is native to Korea, Japan, and eastern China. It’s a species of climbing flowering plant that was first brought to North America in 1866.
Multiflora Rose is also known as Many-Flowered Rose, Baby Rose, Japanese Rose, Bramble Rose, and Wild Roses.
These plants produce blooms in a bright white color with yellow stamens at the center. Each flower has 5 perfectly heart-shaped flowers.
Multiflora Rose can grow up to 15 feet high and 18 feet wide. They thrive in full sun and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Wrap Up
There you have it, 11 flowers that look like hearts.
If you’re looking to amp up the romantic vibe of your garden or need a spot-on Valentine’s Day gift, any of these lovely blooms will do the trick.