Big leaves, spiky leaves…my love for both is well documented. However, I’m also drawn to the tiniest of leaves and especially love them when seen in combination with the big ones. It’s all about the contrast.
Acacia dealbata and Paulownia tomentosa, that’s extreme contrast…
The A. dealbata has surprised me with its growth this year, it’s doing an admirable job of keeping pace with the Paulownia tomentosa – which is known to be a fast grower.
Here it’s doing battle with Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’ to see which one can out tiny the other one.
The Fatsia polycarpa ‘Needham’s Lace’ has decided to buddy up to multiple tiny leaves, here it’s with Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’.
The A. baileyana ‘Purpurea’ isn’t hardy but has done well in a container.
F. polycarpa ‘Needham’s Lace’ and Caesalpinia gilliesii.
F. polycarpa ‘Needham’s Lace’ and Pittosporum illicioides ‘Strappy’. Is the Fatsia a show off, or just friendly?
Grevillea australis and Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Axminster Gold’. In addition to tiny leaves the Grevillea also has extremely small flowers.
Aeschynomene fluitans (which I mislabeled on my Bloomday post as Neptunia aquatica). It’s leaves aren’t especially tiny, but next to the bigger leaves of the water lily they still give the same feeling of contrast and texture.
Canna Australia and Amsonia hubrichtii.
And hiding in the background of the photo above is another Caesalpinia gilliesii (I’m still holding out hope for blooms this summer).
Rhamnus frangula (Fine Line Buckthorn). Our friends at Cistus nursery describe this one well: “Airy-fairy buckthorn with a delicate lightness to the entire plant — or the look of a bad hair day”…
Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’ – tiny DARK leaves. Score two for this tree!
Muehlenbeckia astonii, tiny leaves and zig-zag branches. Does it get any better?
Yes it does! Sophora prostrata ‘Little Baby’ continues the zig-zagging but the leaves are even smaller and there are multiples.
I am smitten.
Do you have any tiny-leaf favorites?