Why Do Some Trees Not Lose Their Leaves?

Hadassah S. asks,

“Why do some trees not lose their leaves in the fall?”

Thanks for your great question, Hadassah!

One of the most beautiful parts of the autumn season is the vibrant, vivid hues that the leaves change as the weather gets cooler. But what about the trees with leaves that stay green throughout the year? What makes them different from those that shed leaves all over the ground?

Deciduous Trees and Evergreen Trees

The trees with broad, flat leaves that change color and fall to the ground during autumn are called deciduous trees (di-si-joo-uhs). Deciduous trees lose their leaves each year in a predictable cycle. As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, they absorb less energy from the sun, causing them to go dormant and shed their leaves. During this process, the tree doesn’t die; rather, it reabsorbs water and nutrients from the leaves, causing the leaves to drop as it prepares for winter. As leaves fall to the ground, they provide shelter for insects and other wildlife until they decompose, releasing valuable nutrients into the soil. Some of these trees you might recognize are maple, oak, and birch trees.

The leaves on deciduous trees go through a cycle that changes with the seasons.
(Image CC 2.0 by Rachel Kramer via Flickr)

Unlike deciduous trees, evergreen trees typically have tightly rolled leaves called needles. The shape helps them conserve water, and they are covered with a waxy coating that helps keep water from evaporating. Evergreens keep their leaves through the seasons, losing needles little by little instead of all at once. This allows them to keep their full, green appearance year-round because their needles stay moist and resist the winter. This is helpful for sheltering birds and other small animals during conditions they might not survive otherwise. Some types of evergreen trees you might recognize are pine, spruce, and cedar.

Evergreen trees keep their green appearance throughout the seasons.
(Image CC 2.0 by XS Suen via Flickr)

The green color we see in leaves comes from chlorophyll, a pigment involved in photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of turning sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy. While both deciduous and evergreen trees use photosynthesis, deciduous trees only perform this process during the growing season when they have leaves. Evergreen trees can continue this process all year, though they tend to grow more slowly than deciduous trees. Because of this, they are more resilient and can survive in harsher climates.

God’s Amazing Creation

These different types of trees illustrate God’s amazing design for his creation. He created the broad leaves of deciduous trees to capture sunlight during the growing season, display their striking colors, and then drop to nurture the ground, allowing the tree to go dormant for the winter. The evergreen trees, meanwhile, provide shelter for birds and other small animals throughout the year. What a testament to God’s creativity and intricate design!

Evergreen trees also serve as a reminder of God’s steadfast faithfulness. As the psalmist writes in Psalm 104:16–17, “The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.” The consistent beauty of evergreens and the protection they offer to God’s creation is a model of how God will always be here for us, offering peace and shelter.

Evergreen trees can provide shelter for birds in the winter.
(Image by Virgil Maierean via Unsplash)

Just as the trees need water and sunlight, we also need a source of enduring life. God provided that through his son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose again to conquer death. This is our ultimate hope, one that lasts forever—stronger than even the most resilient evergreen! Call out to Jesus, confess your sins, and believe he died and rose again for you. Just as God breathed life into creation, he offers us eternal life and a steadfast relationship with all who believe in him.

Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:10–13)

Do you have a question about the Bible? Ask your parents to help you submit your question today. We’d love to hear from you!