Why do some young beech trees keep dead leaves through winter?

Young beech trees often retain their dead leaves through the winter due to a phenomenon known as marcescence.

While most deciduous trees undergo a controlled process called abscission—where a layer of cells forms to detach the leaf from the twig—marcescent trees like the beech do not complete this process for all their foliage before winter sets in. Consequently, the dead leaves remain attached to the branches, often persisting until they are eventually dislodged by wind, precipitation, or the emergence of new growth in the spring. This trait is particularly common in younger beech trees and is a natural characteristic of the species rather than a sign of poor health.123