Leaves change color because they stop making green. During summer, leaves are full of chlorophyll, which makes them look green. When it gets colder and days get shorter, the tree starts to shut down for winter, and the green goes away, revealing other colors like yellow, orange, or red that were always there but hidden.
Examples
- A maple tree’s leaves turn red because they stop making green.
- The yellow leaves on a birch tree show up when the green disappears.
- Some trees, like oaks, turn brown in autumn because that's what their leaves look like without chlorophyll.
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See also
- What Causes the Different Colors in Leaves?
- What Causes the ‘Color’ of a Leaf in Autumn?
- What Causes the ‘Green’ Color of a Lawn?
- How Does a Leaf Know When to Change Color?
- Why Do Leaves Change Color in Autumn?
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