Leaves are deciduous, dark-green, alternate and simple with a coarsely-serrated margin, varying from in length. In autumn, leaves turn various shades of yellow, orange and red. Hornbeam saplings, stressed trees, and the lower branches of mature trees may exhibit marcescence—where leaves wither with autumn but abscission (leafdrop) is delayed until spring.
Leaves are deciduous, dark-green, alternate and simple with a coarsely-serrated margin, varying from in length. In autumn, leaves turn various shades of yellow orange and red. Hornbeam saplings, stressed trees, and the lower branches of mature trees may exhibit marcescence—where leaves wither with autumn but abscission (leafdrop) is delayed until spring.