Why Do Some Trees Lose Their Leaves in Winter and Others Don’t?

Some trees lose their leaves in winter because they go to sleep, while others stay awake all year round.

Trees that lose their leaves are like bears who hibernate during winter. They shrink back into a quiet state to save energy. Their leaves are like blankets, once the cold comes, they shed them so they don’t have to work as hard to keep warm. This is called being deciduous, which means "cutting off" in Latin.

Trees that stay green all year round are more like humans who never take a nap. They’re called evergreen trees, and they keep their leaves because they have special tools, like tiny needles or thick layers of wax, that help them hold on to water and warmth even in the cold.

Some evergreens also change color slightly in winter, but they don’t lose all their leaves at once. It’s like wearing a coat with many pockets, you can still stay warm even if one pocket is empty.