Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for purple and maroon colors of leaves in fall. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)
Shorter, cooler days bring brilliant foliage color changes for many trees and shrubs in fall. This time of year can be very beautiful as green leaves give way to brilliant colors of gold, orange, maroon, red and yellow.
The reason for this color change? Trees are preparing for winter, and the color change is a byproduct of this process.
Broadleaf hardwood trees do this by losing their leaves…
