Why do leaves change color? Here’s the science behind deciduous trees.

Why do leaves change color? Here’s the science behind deciduous trees.

By Emily Wright, Kasha Patel

…

Trees make adjustments depending on their location and climate. Evergreen trees, like pine, spruce and fir, are often found in cool, temperate regions; they keep their leaves and remain green throughout the year.

Trees that are deciduous — roughly translating to “falling off” in Latin — lose all of their leaves for part of the year. These broad-leafed trees are typically found in temperate regions, such as the eastern United States and western Europe.

From bud to bloom, many leaves of deciduous trees experience a lifetime in just a year. Their shifts in shape, color and size across seasons are on display for everyone to witness. Internally, the leaves are undergoing chemical transformations.