Annuality of Central European deciduous tree leaves delimits community development of epifoliar pigmented fungi

► Epifoliar pigmented fungi differed between deciduous and evergreen trees. ► Aureobasidium pullulans dominated on annual and young perennial leaves. ► Predominance of Cladosporium cladosporioides was indicative for older leaves. ► Fungal communities on annual leaves represent an early developmental stage. ► Life-span of annual leaves is too short for the community to reach a steady state.