04/08/2026
Cool information
Wednesday Winter "Why?"
Throughout this season we are going to answer questions about all sorts of winter topics. This week we ask: Why do some plants stay green all winter?
Plants that remain green in winter do so because they retain chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of producing glucose out of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Unlike deciduous plants that shed leaves to survive cold, these plants have adapted to keep their leaves for a few different reasons.
Continuous Photosynthesis: Evergreens like pines, firs, and spruces keep their needles for years, allowing them to produce food even in winter. Their needles are leaves that have adaptations such as their long, thin shape and waxy coating to keep from dehydration and protect against cold damage.
Some plants, like certain ferns (i.e. Christmas ferns), stay green to take advantage of early spring when the canopy above them is bare and letting sun shine all the way to the forest floor.. Another adaptation allows the plants to use stored sugars as an "antifreeze" to protect their cells.
So that's why it's important to eat sugar... so you don't freeze solid!
Photo: Striped wintergreen
