What Causes the ‘Color’ of a Leaf in Autumn?

In the fall, leaves change color because the green pigment, chlorophyll, starts to disappear. When that happens, other pigments like orange and yellow show up, just like when you take off a green shirt and reveal a colorful outfit underneath. Some trees even make extra red pigments called anthocyanins, which is why some leaves turn bright red or purple.

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Examples

  1. A leaf turns orange because it shows its hidden yellow pigments when green fades away.
  2. Some leaves turn red because they make extra red color during the fall.
  3. A maple tree's leaves might show more red than a birch tree’s, depending on their pigment levels.

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