Book 4, Question 14
Why Do Leaves Turn Red and Gold?
In autumn, green chlorophyll fades first. Yellow and orange were hiding underneath the whole time. Some trees also make extra red!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- In fall, shorter days and cooler weather make the green chlorophyll in leaves break down.
- As the green fades, yellow and orange pigments that were there all along start to show.
- Ash, beech and poplar leaves turn yellow, red maples, sumac and dogwood turn red, and oak leaves often turn brown.
- Leaves may turn red to protect themselves from the Sun's ultraviolet rays.
- A drought or an early frost can make leaves fall before they have time to change color.
- A cool fall makes red maple leaves look even brighter.
Sources: NASA Science, NASA, Science News Explores, NOAA, National Park Service
Questions kids ask
Where do yellow leaf colors come from?
The yellow pigments are in the leaf all summer, hidden by green. When the green fades in fall, they show.