Garden Plants

60-second guide: what leaves tell us

Take a minute to discover how leaves make plants suitable for a particular site

Evergreens with leathery, waxy leaves are tough plants

'Large leaves have evolved on certain plants such as Rodgersia to catch as much light as possible when they're in the shade.'

Many plants have evolved over time to the growing conditions of their natural surroundings and developed strategies to cope with any demanding situations. Leaves can be a very good indicator of their preferred conditions:

Silver leaves

Silver leaves on plants such as lavender (Lavendula) reflect light and heat and they act as a cooling device for those plants adapted to hot, dry sites.

Hairy leaves

Hairy leaves trap moisture

Hairy leaves on plants such as Stachys byzantina reduce excessive water loss from the leaf surface. By trapping moist air between the hairs, less water is lost from the leaves which, in turn, hydrates plants and helps them to tolerate drier sites.

Fleshy leaves

Fleshy leaves on plants such as sedums have adapted to store water in times of plenty, then make use of the water during shortages. This ability makes these plants tolerant of drought conditions.

Waxy, leathery leaves

Waxy, leathery leaves on tough evergreens, such as Buxus, help reduce water loss in cold winter winds, or when soil water may be frozen and unavailable to plant roots. These plants are, therefore, really useful and accommodating, coping with all weathers – as long as they are hardy.

Large leaves

Large leaves have evolved on certain plants such as Rodgersia to catch as much light as possible when they're in the shade. The larger the leaves are, the more light then can catch, and they may be very large if the roots can gain enough water from the soil, as you would expect in boggy sites – think Gunnera manicata.

Large leaves with hairs

Large leaves with hairs – a double whammy of features found on plants such as Pulmonaria – indicate that the plant is adapted to a dry, shady site. The large leaves capture what light is available and the hairs trap moisture. How clever is that.

Adapted by Sarah Brocklehurst.

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