The present invention provides genetic markers for identifying engraftable human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells. The engraftment markers of the invention include angiogenic markers and extracellular matrix markers. Human ventricular progenitor cells expressing these markers are capable of forming ventricular tissue in vivo that is vascularized and supported by an extracellular matrix. Methods of engrafting human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells by transplanting into a subject progenitor cells that express the engraftment markers are also provided.