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How to Identify Shiny Shrub Leaves
How to Identify Shiny Shrub Leaves. Shiny plant leaves are found on a vast array of plant varieties. Their appearance brings life to dull areas of the home and garden. Some plants that have shiny leaves also have brightly colored blooms in bold, and often distinct, shapes. Shrub leaves are often deciduous, meaning they fall in autumn as the plant...
Shiny plant leaves are found on a vast array of plant varieties. Their appearance brings life to dull areas of the home and garden. Some plants that have shiny leaves also have brightly colored blooms in bold, and often distinct, shapes. Shrub leaves are often deciduous, meaning they fall in autumn as the plant goes dormant. The shiny leaves are even more appealing since they are often found on evergreen shrubs.
Things You'll Need
Leaf in question
Observe the leaf in full sunlight. With the sun shining down on the plant, the leaf will shine and reflect the light. A dull or matte leaf would absorb the sun's rays without taking on a glossy or shiny appearance.
Feel the leaf for thickness. Shiny leaves are thicker than matte leaves. The leaves of the glossy abelia are thicker than the leaves of a hydrangea plant since the leaves store water. Backyardgardener.com describes the drought-tolerant abelia: "Drought tolerant plants are often deep rooted, have waxy or thick leaves that conserve water, or leaf structures that close to minimize transpiration."
Feel the texture of the leaf. A shiny leaf will be smooth and almost rubber-like, with a waxy film. Matte leaves feel clean and soft, without any kind of oily or waxy build up.
