Book 4, Question 14 · Video
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!
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Grab your explorer hat! Why do leaves turn red and gold?
The Big Idea
In autumn, green chlorophyll fades first. Yellow and orange were hiding underneath the whole time. Some trees also make extra red! Trees are not making the color on purpose for us. It is just chemistry and sunshine.
Summer Green
Step one: summer green. In summer, chlorophyll is busy making food, and it covers up other colors. So the leaves look green.
Days Shorten
Step two: the days shorten, and green fades. Cool nights and shorter days tell the tree to stop feeding the leaf. The green tool, chlorophyll, breaks down, and other colors can show. Cool, sunny autumn days often make the brightest colors.
Gold Shows, Red May Join
Step three: gold shows, and red may join. Hidden yellow and orange were there all along, and now they show. Some trees also add extra red pigment as the leaf shuts down. A few trees, like evergreens, skip the color show entirely.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at leaf colors! Green chlorophyll is the summer color, and it fades first. Yellow pigment was hiding under the green. Red pigment is made extra by some trees in autumn. The veins are the roads of the leaf, and they carry water and sugar. The stem attaches the leaf to the branch.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Brown often means the leaf is fully done and dry. A sudden freeze can turn leaves brown before they color. The best color weeks depend on weather, not a calendar date. Safety first: collect fallen leaves, and do not strip living branches.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, collect fallen leaves in different colors. Which color was hiding? Which color looks like a last extra paint? Why did the green fade first?
Outro
Now you know! Autumn colors were hiding in the leaf all along. Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!