AUTUMN LEAF COLORS

It is amazing that all of the beautiful colors of autumn leaves are the result of only 5 different pigment groups, plus the basic color of the materials that make up a leaf. But the various combinations of pigments, placed in different layers of the leaf in different concentrations and in different patterns visible on the surface of the leaf give us the wonderful variation in color we see.

The Pigment Colors

The 5 pigment groups are:

1. Chlorophyll - greens - This pigment powers the plant. Concentrated in chloroplasts.
2. Xanthophyll - yellow - This pigment reflects light onto the chloroplasts.
3. Carotene - ambers, oranges, and scarlets - These reflect light onto the chloroplasts.
4. Anthocyanin - cerise - This pigment is added as chlorophyll decreases.
5. Tannin - dark browns - Added as the leaf starts to decompose.

The other color is the basic light brown of the other materials in the leaf. They are not normally visible, and become visible when the other pigments deteriorate.

It's amazing how God did it with only 6 pigments.

Pigment Color Chart

Combined Colors

Many leaves have more than one pigment in them at the same time. Often they are in different layers. These produce not only colors not otherwise produced, but also multiple colors on the same leaf. The multiple colors can be a gradient of colors across the leaf, or a speckling of colors, or both.

Some individual leaves have various colors of green, yellow, amber, orange, and scarlet. They usually have chlorophyll in various amounts with carotene underneath. The various colors come from the amounts of chlorophyll and carotene.

Some individual leaves have various colors of green, brown, yellow and red. They usually have chlorophyll in various amounts with xanthophyll underneath and areas of anthocyanin on top. The chlorophyll and anthocyanin mix to make the brown. Xanthophyll and anthocyanin mix to make oranges and red.

Which pigments are above or below other pigments was determined by observing leaves with cracks in the upper surface. The lower pigment was seen alone through the cracks that divided the upper pigment into tiny regions visible with a magnifying glass.

In the chart below, there are two cells for each combination of colors. The one on the left shows the effect of a speckling of colors. Under each one is the effect of one pigment hiding under another. The one on the right shows the result of the colors mixing together in the leaf. If it still looks speckled on your monitor, squint or move away a few feet to see it.

Combined Colors Chart

Leaf Colors by Specie

Here is a list of several tree species, with the English and Latin names and the usual fall leaf colors.