11/10/2026
🍁🌳 WHY DO TREES CHANGE COLOUR IN AUTUMN? 🍂
Have you ever wondered why some trees turn golden yellow, others bright orange, and some a stunning deep red?
As autumn arrives, our trees put on one of nature's most spectacular displays! 🍁
But there's actually some fascinating science behind those beautiful colours. 🔬🌳
🟢 GREEN – Chlorophyll Throughout spring and summer, chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour. As daylight hours shorten, trees begin breaking down chlorophyll in preparation for winter.
🟡 YELLOW & ORANGE – Carotenoids As the green fades, yellow and orange pigments already present in the leaves become visible, creating those beautiful autumn shades.
🔴 RED & PURPLE – Anthocyanins Some trees produce additional pigments during autumn, resulting in brilliant reds and purples. Sunshine, temperature and weather conditions all influence the intensity of these colours.
🌳 DID YOU KNOW?
Different tree species produce different autumn colours!
🍃 Silver birch – Golden yellow
🍁 Field maple – Yellow and gold
🍂 Rowan – Yellow, orange and red
🌳 English oak – Russet brown
🍒 Wild cherry – Orange and deep red
Every autumn is different, and the colours we see are influenced by tree species, weather conditions and the environment.
🌳 Oak Valley Tree Consultancy
Passionate about trees, their health, management and preservation.
🍁 Next time you're out enjoying the autumn colours, take a moment to appreciate the incredible biology behind them!