Smallest Leaf Deciduous Species

[HorseloverFat]

I think broadleaf evergreen

Yeah... I THOUGHT all box trees were. I made the EXACT same mistake, too! (Posting my Yaupon.. forgetting it’s classification.)

 

[AZbonsai]

Look into hokkaido elm.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Smallest leafLET = Bailey acacia.

 

[Igor. T. Ljubek]

Most elms, zelkovas, hawthorns and oriental hornbeam have very small leaves when growing as bonsai trees. On some maple species you can also get a drastic leaf reduction, but that requires quite an effort to achieve it.
There are species with even smaller leves but usualy they are just a tiny shrubs (up to 1 or max 2 inches/5cm trunk diameter), only suitable for very small bonsai trees. If you like small bonsai i am sure there are plenty of species available to you.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The challenge with many dwarf cultivars is that small leaf size is often accompanied by other characteristics that may be problematic.

For example in the case of hokkaido Chinese elms, the rate of growth is glacial, and branching is twiggy and brittle. So even though the small leaf size, by itself, would tend to indicate a good candidate for bonsai, many other characteristics will be challenging.

 

[milehigh_7]

Here's an example of the leaf reduction possible with Vitex agnus-castus. Love these trees.

 

[milehigh_7]

Smallest leafLET = Bailey acacia.

I'm not familiar with this one but acacia smallii is pretty tiny as well. Also Parkinsonia microphillia (foothill paloverde)

 

[Mikecheck123]

The challenge with many dwarf cultivars is that small leaf size is often accompanied by other characteristics that may be problematic.

For example in the case of hokkaido Chinese elms, the rate of growth is glacial, and branching is twiggy and brittle. So even though the small leaf size, by itself, would tend to indicate a good candidate for bonsai, many other characteristics will be challenging.

View attachment 380260

Yup. I lost a significant branch off my hokkaido elm this week because.... a bird landed on it. SNAP!

 

[Mikecheck123]

I'm not familiar with this one but acacia smallii is pretty tiny as well. Also Parkinsonia microphillia (foothill paloverde) View attachment 496743

 

[milehigh_7]

@Mikecheck123 That's pretty coo! I love learning about new species! I'll so some research.