Grades K–2 · Organisms
Where do autumn leaf colors come from?
A summer leaf often looks green because it contains a green pigment called chlorophyll. A pigment is a substance that helps give something its color. The leaf can contain other pigments even while green is the color we notice most.
In the diagramAutumn changes the pigments we noticeGreenGreen prominentYellow / orangeColors revealedRed in some treesRed also producedDifferent leaves can follow different color paths.These are pigment situations, not one fixed sequence.
As autumn arrives, shorter days and changing temperatures help signal seasonal changes. Green chlorophyll breaks down. Yellow and orange pigments that were already in many leaves become easier to see.
Some leaves also make red or purple pigments during autumn. That is why a red leaf is not explained only by uncovering a hidden yellow color. Different trees contain and make different pigments, so the whole forest does not turn one color at once.
About this explanation
Starting knowledge: Recognize green, yellow, orange and red leaves.
Sources
- University of Minnesota — The science behind Minnesota’s fall colors