Choosing planting

Large-leaved trees and shrubs

Our selection of large-leaved trees and shrubs

Contents

Modified the 21 September 2025 by Gwenaëlle 7 min. Difficulty: Beginner

Large foliage irresistibly evokes the tropics and luxuriance. It is interesting to play with these large leaves in the garden to create a jungle atmosphere, provide a sense of travel and exuberance without leaving home. Many plants actually have a large leaf area; they are often of tropical origin, where plants growing beneath the canopy strategically expand their laminae to capture as much light as possible and thus carry out photosynthesis. Several leafy trees and shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, also offer exceptional foliage, which we invite you to discover… or rediscover!

Difficulty

Paulownia tomentosa

Imperial if ever there was one, the Paulownia has the largest simple leaves among leafy trees: they are truly gigantic, measuring between 30 and 50 cm long. This is not the only attraction of this impressive-sized tree (it grows rapidly to reach 10 m in 10 years, then will generally reach 15 m tall): its spring flowers on bare wood stand out beautifully, a rare violet-blue among trees, and are trumpet-shaped, reminiscent of foxgloves. Note that the foliage takes on these giant proportions when cut back short, which allows it to be kept as a smaller tree, but at the expense of flowering… Imperial Paulownia prefers warm conditions and will grace a large garden or park for many months (it retains its foliage for a long time).

Paulownia fortunei ‘Fast Blue’ is a smaller cultivar, more upright in habit, with the same foliage and flowering qualities as the species.

Paulownia tomentosa

Catalpa bignonioides

After Paulownia, Catalpa has the largest simple leaves among deciduous trees: they measure between 15 and 20 cm. They are cordate (heart-shaped), whorled in threes (inserted at the same level around an axis) and a lovely pale green. Catalpa, with its broad foliage, lends an exotic touch to your garden. It is an ideal shade tree for medium to large gardens; it reaches 8 to 13 m in height with a spreading, even parasol-like, habit. Its flowering is another of its charms: in summer it produces beautiful clustered flowers, white spotted with purple, which will turn into very long pods of 30 to 50 cm, enhancing the exotic look, and which will persist on the bare tree. The dwarf variety ideal for small gardens (‘Nana’) has slightly smaller leaves.

Catalpa bignonoides (© Wendy Culter)

Rhus typhina

Virginia sumac Virginia sumac has very large, remarkable odd-pinnate compound foliage: it changes through the seasons from green to yellow and displays superb orange-red to fiery red autumn colours. The immense leaves are made up of around twenty leaflets and measure 50 to 60 cm long. They give this large shrub with a spreading habit (wider than tall at maturity) a very elegant appearance. Virginia sumac needs sun to develop its sublime autumn colours. It adapts to all soils, is hardy and tolerates drought and urban pollution. It has only one small drawback: it suckers easily! To avoid this, opt for newer cultivars such as ‘Tiger Eyes’ which remain non-invasive. The dissecta varieties, also called laciniata, have finely cut foliage that is truly superb (but somewhat smaller than the species).

Rhus typhina: autumn foliage on left (© Finn Termann Frederiksen), summer foliage and fruits on right (fruits produced only on female plants)

Fatsia japonica

This shrub is increasingly common in gardens and patios. The false aralia our grandmothers often grew indoors has come back into fashion, and rightly so. Sporting a large, superbly palmate evergreen foliage, it inevitably attracts the eye. Leaves can measure up to 30 cm, with a glossy, highly decorative green, as is the upright habit of the Fatsia. In autumn it produces umbels of flowers resembling those of ivy (they belong to the same family). Fatsia japonica is all the more interesting to plant in gardens as it can, like no other, transform a dark corner into a small tropical haven when combined with a few other well-chosen plants that, like it, enjoy partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates down to -15 °C… Need we say more? This shrub is a gem! You can easily find several varieties with cream-variegated foliage (‘Spider’s Web’ or ‘Variegata’).

Fatsia japonica (© Gwenaëlle David)

→ Find out more about the Fatsia japonica in our full fact sheet: Fatsia japonica: planting, growing and care

Tetrapanax

In the series of Fatsias, how could we not tell you about Fatsia papyrifera, now better known as Tetrapanax or rice-paper tree? This shrub, sometimes classed among perennials, is spectacular for the size of its palmatifid leaves which recall – in an extra-large, more supple version – those of Fatsia japonica: they bear giant, deeply dissected, green and downy laminae, rounded in shape and 50 to 80 cm in diameter. Tetrapanax papyrifer develops especially luxuriantly, even in our latitudes (it originates from southern China), when planted in fresh, light, fertile soil in partial shade. With rapid growth, it usually reaches 2 m in height with a spread up to 8 m! That makes it a must for anyone wishing to create an extraordinary tropical setting. You can pair it with a wide range evoking the tropics: Dicksonia antartica, Musas, Phormiums, Colocasias…

Tetrapanax papyfera

→ Watch our video : Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’ and learn everything about Tetrapanax in our complete fact sheet

Magnolia tripelata and Magnolia hypoleuca (obovata)

Evergreen magnolias are known for their very beautiful, large glossy foliage. And yet it is two deciduous Magnolias with admirable flowers that rank among the most beautiful and largest foliage: first an Eastern American Magnolia, Magnolia tripelata (also encountered under the name Magnolia umbrella or Magnolia parasol) whose obovate leaves measure up to 60 cm long! It is exceptional with its spreading habit, its white flowers appearing in May-June, and that delicate light-coloured foliage strongly marked by exoticism which takes on a lovely autumn colour. You can plant it even in a small garden, as it reaches 6 to 8 m tall at maturity.

Another Magnolia worthy of inclusion in this selection of large foliage, even if its leaves measure “only” 40 cm long by 20 cm wide: Magnolia hypoleuca (also called Magnolia obovata) of Japanese origin. The slightly bluish, satiny leaves are stunning, and what of its creamy flowers with magnificent, prominent stamens. Both of these fine specimens should be planted in slightly acidic soil, as solitary specimens so their beauty can be fully appreciated.

Magnolia tripelata and Magnolia hypoleuca (Leonora Enking)

Melianthus major

Originating from South Africa, the large Melianthus has ample, light foliage, among the most graphic and spectacular, composed of dentate leaflets that form a leaf about 40 to 50 cm long. These magnificent leaves are evergreen, of a superb bluish colour, jade at bud burst period. The stems are rather rigid; they carry the foliage as if suspended and give the plant an upright yet spreading habit. Melianthus major grows between 1.50 m and 2 m at maturity. It can be grown in a large pot on a sunny terrace in colder regions; it tolerates some frost down to -5 °C, but will require a fleece outside coastal fringe.

Melianthus major : habit (© Gwenaëlle David), and flower

Eriobotrya japonica

No, large foliage is not the preserve of trees reserved for those lucky enough to have a very large garden! Japanese loquat is one of my favourite small ornamental trees, for its generously sized, decidedly exotic foliage which it carries all year round: its long, crinkled leaves measure between 20 and 25 cm. They are tough, glossy above and downy and russet beneath. They have strongly marked veins, giving a truly exotic appearance. The habit of this small tree is superb: it is spreading, almost forming an umbrella shape at maturity. Despite its tropical look, it is hardy down to −12 °C and can be grown in many regions (only fruiting—orange fruits that appear in winter, also called medlars—will be compromised from −4 °C).

Eriobotrya japonica (© Gwenaelle David)

Liriodendron tulipifera

Tulip tree is a very beautiful deciduous tree, whose quadrilobate leaves are quite unique: the terminal lobes are splayed, giving Liriodendron a very unusual and characteristic appearance. A beautiful light-green leaf measures about 15 cm, it turns a magnificent orangey-yellow in autumn. Liriodendron is therefore easily recognised by this foliar peculiarity, but also by its sublime summer flowering, itself unusual, taking the form of large tulips with erect stamens. Unfortunately flowering only occurs on trees around fifteen years old. This large tree, reaching about twenty metres at maturity, prefers rich, moist, acidic or neutral soils, and is suited to a large garden or park.

Pinus wallichiana

Why mention a conifer among these broadleaves? Because the Himalayan weeping pine is not that common and it bears flexible needles among the longest in this large family. Its sweeping, graceful sprays are well worth a detour, giving it a very distinctive style. These are very fine, blue-green needles, grouped into a myriad of sprays, measuring between 20 and 30 cm long. Pinus wallichiana is grown as a single-trunk tree, or else coppiced (multiple trunks). Plant it in full sun, ideally isolated on a lawn in a large garden (it reaches 15 m). It is particularly hardy, and adapts to any type of soil.

Quercus frainetto

Better known as Hungarian oak, Quercus frainetto is notable for its particularly large and distinctive foliage: the deciduous leaves measure about 20 cm, are deeply lobed and range from light green in spring to glossy dark green in summer and golden yellow in autumn. Hungarian oak thrives in sun or partial shade and tolerates calcareous soil. Valued for its fairly rapid growth and the light shade it provides in summer, this majestic tree reaches 20 m in height with a spread of around 12 m… therefore best reserved for park-sized gardens!

Quercus dentata ‘Grandifolia’, a marcescent cultivar from Japan (‘Oh-gashiwa’), a little harder to find, has astonishing leaves 40 cm long!

Quercus frainetto : spring foliage

But also a wide range from tropical regions…

This selection is ultimately limited; it could have included the remarkable foliage of other trees, notably the silky Albizia, Sassafras albidum with its very beautiful lobed leaves, fig trees and mulberry trees (including Broussonetia papyrifera), certain Mahonias, and many tropical trees and shrubs such as Brugmansia with its fabulous tropical flowers… and many palms! They almost deserve a separate article, such is the grandeur of their large foliage, which ranks among the most beautiful in the plant world. This does not even include banana plants and some large succulent plants such as Agaves. You are spoilt for choice when creating strikingly exotic garden displays…