Why Do Some Trees Change Color in Autumn?

Trees change color in autumn because their leaves stop making green chlorophyll. When the weather gets colder, trees get ready for winter by cutting off food to their leaves. Without green chlorophyll, other colors, like red and yellow, start showing through the leaves, just like when you peel back a layer of paint.

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Examples

  1. A maple tree turns red because it stops making green leaves.
  2. An oak tree shows yellow colors after the summer is over.
  3. In the fall, a birch tree peels back its green layers to reveal white underneath.

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