Can plants change colour as they grow?

In one line

The rule

Plants often change color during their growth due to changes in age, season, or their needs.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine a mango tree in your garden. In spring, its new leaves are light green or even reddish. As they grow older, they turn dark green. Later, in autumn, they may become yellow or brown and fall off. This is because plants make different colors (called pigments) as they grow and as seasons change.

Think of a guava fruit. When it is small, it is green. As it ripens, it turns yellow. The same plant can show many colors at different times.

How it works

1. Plants have special chemicals called pigments (like chlorophyll for green, carotene for orange/yellow, anthocyanin for red/purple).
2. When a leaf or fruit is young, it may have more of one pigment (like anthocyanin, making it red).
3. As it grows, the amount of each pigment changes. For example, more chlorophyll makes leaves greener.
4. In autumn or when the plant gets old, chlorophyll breaks down, and other pigments show up (yellow, orange, red).
5. Sometimes, stress (like too much sun or not enough water) can also change the color.

The story behind it

Scientists have studied plant colors for hundreds of years. They found that pigments help plants in many ways, like catching sunlight, protecting from insects, or attracting animals to spread seeds. The famous scientist Jan Ingenhousz, in the 1700s, discovered that green plants use sunlight to make food (photosynthesis), which is linked to their green color.

Where you see it in real life

• Mango tree leaves: New leaves are reddish, old leaves are green, and before falling, they turn yellow.
• Banana fruit: Starts green, turns yellow as it ripens.
• Gulmohar tree: Flowers start as buds (green), then open as bright red or orange.
• Chilli plant: Chillies are green when young, turn red as they ripen.
• Bougainvillea: Young leaves and bracts may be light green or pink, then become bright magenta or purple.
• Rice fields: Young rice plants are light green, mature plants turn golden yellow before harvest.

Why it matters

• Helps farmers know when fruits or crops are ready to harvest.
• Shows if a plant is healthy or needs water/fertilizer.
• Attracts birds and insects for pollination (spreading pollen) or seed spreading.
• Makes gardens and parks beautiful with many colors.

Common mistakes

• Thinking only flowers change color — leaves and fruits can also change color.
• Believing color change means the plant is sick — sometimes it is just growing or getting ready for a new season.
• Forgetting that sunlight, water, and temperature can also change plant colors.

Remember it

Plants change color as they grow — new, old, and ripe parts often look different.