Why do plants that grow in the shade have darker green leaves than plants that grow in sunshine?
Plants rely on sunlight for photosynthesis (the process by which they make sugars i.e. food). They “trap” the sunlight with aid of a pigment – chlorophyll. This pigment is also responsible for the green colouration in the leaves. In the shade, a plant increases the size and concentration of chlorophyll in its leaves so that it is able to absorb more of the available light. It therefore appears a darker shade of green. Plants in full sunshine have more than enough sunlight for growth- hence they have smaller leaves with a reduced concentration of chlorophyll- their leaves are thus a lighter green.
