Why are some plants not green?

In one line

The rule

Plants are green because of chlorophyll, a pigment that helps them make food using sunlight. If a plant has less chlorophyll or other pigments, it may look red, purple, yellow, or another color.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are rolling roti in the kitchen. If you use green spinach in the dough, the roti looks green. If you use beetroot, it turns red. Plants are similar. Most plants have a green color because of chlorophyll (the green pigment that helps plants make food from sunlight). But some plants have less chlorophyll or have other pigments (color chemicals) that cover up the green. That’s why you see red, purple, or yellow leaves sometimes.

How it works

1. Plants usually make chlorophyll to capture sunlight for food (photosynthesis).
2. Some plants have genes (instructions) that make less chlorophyll or none at all.
3. Other pigments like anthocyanins (red/purple), carotenoids (yellow/orange), or others can be present in higher amounts.
4. These pigments can cover or replace the green color.
5. Some plants, like mushrooms or parasitic plants, do not need sunlight for food, so they don’t make chlorophyll and are not green.

The story behind it

Scientists discovered long ago that chlorophyll is what makes most plants green. Later, they found other pigments in plants that give different colors. These discoveries helped us understand why plants can be red, purple, or yellow, and how they survive without being green.

Where you see it in real life

• Coleus plant: Has purple or red leaves because of anthocyanin pigments.
• Mango leaves (young): Young leaves are reddish before turning green as chlorophyll increases.
• Marigold flowers: Bright yellow or orange because of carotenoids.
• Mushrooms: Not green, as they do not have chlorophyll and do not make food from sunlight.
• Dodder plant (amarbel): Yellowish, as it is a parasite and does not make its own food.
• Red cabbage: Leaves are purple due to anthocyanins.

Why it matters

• Helps us understand how plants survive in different ways.
• Important for gardeners and farmers to know which plants need sunlight and which do not.
• Used in making natural dyes and medicines from plant pigments.
• Explains why some plants can grow in shade or on other plants.

Common mistakes

• Thinking all plants must be green. Some plants survive without chlorophyll.
• Believing non-green plants cannot make food. Some can, using other pigments, but many (like mushrooms) get food in other ways.
• Confusing flower color with leaf color. Flowers can be any color, but leaf color depends on pigments in the leaves.

Remember it

Plants are green because of chlorophyll. If there’s less or none, or other pigments are stronger, the plant can be red, purple, yellow, or another color.