Every good origami flower deserves a leaf to stand beside it, and this little model is the easiest way to give it one. It is a slim, pointed leaf that folds from a single square in barely six steps — the kind of background piece that makes a bare blossom look like a real plant.

The moves here are all friendly: a half fold, a couple of folds you line up against the photos, a flip, and one open-and-fold that shapes the leaf. No reverse folds to fear. Fold a handful in different shades of green and you will always have foliage on hand whenever a new flower needs a partner.

This simple origami leaf is a handy little companion piece for any flower or plant model — a slim, pointed leaf you can tuck behind a blossom or attach to a stem. It folds quickly from a single square and uses only basic valley folds, so it makes a good warm-up before a larger project.

STEP 1.

Fold the paper in half.

STEP 2.

Fold upward at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 3.

Fold at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 4.

Turn the model over; it should now match the position shown in the photo.

STEP 5.

Turn the model over.

STEP 6.

Open the flap and fold it as shown in the picture.

COMPLETED!

Your origami leaf is complete.