From Seed to Seed:
Plant Science for K-8 Educators

Digging Deeper

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

If you have witnessed the glory of fall colors, then you know that deciduous trees have leaves that change color. We have already learned that the pigment chlorophyll, contained in the chloroplasts, is responsible for the green color of leaves. We have also learned that there are pigments in the leaf other than chlorophyll. In the fall, the chlorophyll begins to break down. As a result, other less dominant pigments are revealed. These pigments, such as anthocyanins, are responsible for the bright fall colors. After the leaves change color, they abscise, or fall off. This enables them to survive the low temperatures of winter.

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