Cordate Leaf Identification

The leaves of the catalpa tree are medium green and cordate-shaped.

Leaf shape is an important characteristic when attempting to identify plants and trees in the wild or your own landscape. Cordate, or heart-shaped leaves, adorn a number of plant types that will make your landscape more attractive.

Geography

Plants with cordate leaves thrive in various parts of the U.S. For instance, the base of the leaves on the Eastern redbud tree are heart-shaped, and native to Ohio. The catalpa tree grows in all parts of the U.S., particularly in Texas, Louisiana and Kansas, and has cordate leaves accented with white, trumpet-shaped flowers.

Texture

The cordate leaves on the velvetleaf weed are fuzzy, due to the small hairs that grow on both sides of the leaf--the leaves also have a number of pronounced veins and are ridgy to the touch. The wild ginger plant, a shrub that produces deep purple flowers, has hairy heart-shaped leaves as well, that are multi-veined with a leathery texture.

Color

The lindley plant, a California shrub that grows best on slopes, has cordate leaves that are flat and a vivid green. The hunter green leaves on the common sunflower are cordate as well, with slightly ridged edges -- which contrasts well with the bright yellow flower petals. The baby sun rose, which features tiny red or purple blooms, has heart-shaped leaves that are medium green in color, and slightly waxy.

References

• Florida Gardener: Leaves
• Virginia Tech: Velvetleaf
• University of Illinois Extension: Wild Ginger
• Calflora: Arctostaphylos glauca
• Arbor Day Foundation: Catalpa, Northern
• Ohio State University Extension: Cercis -- Redbud

Resources

• 2 B N The Wild: Common Sunflower
• Aggie Horticulture: Dew Plant or Baby Sun Rose