What are trees that maintain their leaves for more than one year called?

Trees that maintain their leaves for more than one year are classified as evergreen. Evergreen trees have foliage that persists throughout the changing seasons, shedding only a few leaves at a time rather than a complete loss of leaves in the autumn, which is characteristic of deciduous trees. This adaptation allows evergreens to remain green and functional year-round, making them an important component of various ecosystems.

In contrast, the term "deciduous" refers to trees that lose their leaves annually during the autumn season, making this definition contradictory to the characteristics of evergreen trees. "Broadleaf" refers to a type of leaf shape rather than a classification based on leaf retention, and "leafy" is not a standard term used in arboriculture or botany to describe a tree's leaf retention strategy. Therefore, evergreen accurately describes trees that retain their leaves for multiple years.