Some plants are worth growing just for their special and extraordinary leaves. This is particularly true of houseplants and tropical species which we are less accustomed to seeing in our gardens.
Leaves can create a shock and awe feature in the garden or contribute to the overall peace and tranquility in a lush setting.

‘Leaves are everywhere, appearing in an astonishing variety of shapes, colors and textures. They are the unappreciated gifts of nature, worthy of far more extensive study by all’ according to Dennis Sharader author of Extraordinary Leaves.

Special and Extraordinary Edible Leaves

• Aromatic herbs and salad leaves vary from the small Thyme & Rosemary to the giant Banana leaves used to wrap food
• Salad crops provide essential vitamins and tasty leaves.
• Vine leaves are used in some Mediterranean cooking to wrap food and the Chinese send their leaves off to the wok

Special and Extraordinary Seasonal Leaves

• Some leaves can tell the time. Calathea open in the morning and close as it gets dark
• Most leaves can tell the season and the colour produced in autumn by the Maple family can bring out the crowds in arboretum around the globe.
• The first leaves of spring are often lime green and fresh but you also get the Pieris with red leaves that gradually turn green

Special and Extraordinary Shaped Leaves

• Spiked and spiny leaves even bamboo leaves can deter invaders in your garden
• Dissected and crinkle cut leaves can provide architectural features in your garden
• Tree Leaf Design, Shape and Function is discussed in more detail here

Special and Extraordinary Coloured Leaves

• We have mentioned autumn colour but grey leaves combined with purple leaved plants can look spectacular.
• Colueus and Begonia can produce Fancy Leaves for Colour, Shape and Texture in one plant. See pictures
• Four leaved clover is said to be lucky but do not rely on the two tone Oxalis leaves below

Alan J. Coombes is a Coordinator of Scientific Collections at the Herbarium and Botanic Garden of the University of Puebla, Mexico, and the author of many books about plants and trees. Zsolt Debreczy is Research Director of the International Dendrological Research Institute in Boston. They have combined to produce The Book of Leaves available now from Amazon. It is very strong on tree leaves.