As the long, hot days of summer fade and a crisp chill creeps into the air, nature begins one of its most stunning performances: the changing of autumn colours. But what exactly are these colours, and why do they appear?
The autumn spectrum is not random; it is a specific collection of hues derived from chemical changes within plant life.
Mustard yellow, cinnamon, burnt sienna, and terracotta. what are autumn colours
Fall Foliage - The Colours of Autumn – Learning with Experts
Unlike the others, anthocyanins are not present in the leaf all year. They are produced in the autumn from trapped sugars. The deep red of a red maple and the burgundy of an oak are examples of anthocyanins at work. These pigments act as a kind of sunscreen, allowing the tree to reabsorb valuable nutrients from the leaf for a little longer. As the long, hot days of summer fade
: Chestnut, caramel, chocolate, and soft bronze. Natural Greens : Olive green, moss, forest green, and sage.
These are the colors of the "skeletal" season—the bark of the trees, the overcast skies, and the damp earth. Autumn Colors in Mood and Design Mustard yellow, cinnamon, burnt sienna, and terracotta
The star of spring and summer. This pigment is essential for photosynthesis, the process plants use to turn sunlight into food. Because chlorophyll is constantly being produced, it masks the other colours below.