Trees and shrubs are called ‘deciduous’ if they drop their leaves during a certain season. Often this will be during the winter season in temperate climates or during the dry season in tropical climates.
Trees are called evergreen if they have leaves throughout the year. This doesn’t mean that they don’t drop their leaves. Older leaves will often drop, but new leaves are already in place. The tree will be never without leaves.
A time lapse video of an oak tree changing with the seasons.
The oak tree in the video is a deciduous tree which sheds all leaves in autumn. It will be bare during winter and develops new leaves in spring.
Other examples of deciduous trees are the apple, pear, cherry and prune. These are all fruit trees growing in temperate climates. They drop their leaves before the start of the winter.
Examples of evergreen trees are mango and tangerine, which grow in tropical climates.