'miniature-leaved' originates from English, combining 'miniature' and 'leaved'. 'miniature' ultimately comes from Medieval Latin 'miniatura' via Italian, where 'miniatura' meant 'small, detailed painting'; 'leaved' derives from Old English 'lēaf' meaning 'leaf' plus the adjectival suffix '-ed' indicating 'having'.

'miniatura' passed into Middle French and then English as 'miniature' with the sense of 'small in size'; 'leaved' developed in Middle English from Old English 'lēaf' + '-ed' and appears in compounds like 'broad-leaved'. These elements combined in modern English to form the compound adjective 'miniature-leaved', especially in horticultural description.

Initially, 'miniature' referred to small, detailed paintings, but its meaning broadened to 'very small in size'. Combined with 'leaved', the compound came to mean 'having very small leaves'.