ðə lˈiːvz ɑːɹ skˈeɪllˈaɪk, wˈʌn tˈuː ˌɛmˈɛm lˈɔŋ, ˌʌp tə fˈaɪv ˌɛmˈɛm lˈɔŋ ˌɔn stɹˈɔŋ lˈiːd ʃˈuːts; jˈʌŋ tɹˈiːz ˌʌp tʊ ɐbˌaʊt fˈaɪv tˈɛn jˈɪɹz ˈoʊld hæv dʒˈuːvənˌaɪl fˈoʊlɪɪdʒ wɪð sˈɔft nˈiːdəllˈaɪk lˈiːvz θɹˈiː ˈeɪt ˌɛmˈɛm lˈɔŋ.
The leaves are scale-like, 1–2 mm long, up to 5 mm long on strong lead shoots; young trees up to about 5–10 years old have juvenile foliage with soft needle-like leaves 3–8 mm long.