Green is the color of nature. When we think of green, we often think of plants, trees, grass, and vegetables. Green is the most dominant color in the natural world, and there are countless green things found in nature.
Plants
Plants are one of the most obvious examples of green things in nature. The green color comes from chlorophyll, which is the pigment plants use to convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Leaves, stems, vines, bushes, and trees are covered in shades of green chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. Without chlorophyll, plants would not be green and would be unable to produce their own food. Some common green plants include pine trees, ferns, ivy, moss, bamboo, and aloe vera.
Grass
Grass is ubiquitious in many habitats and enviroments around the world. Lush green grass carpets meadows, prairies, lawns, fields, and open spaces nearly everywhere on Earth. Grass blades contain chlorophyll which gives them their verdant green hue. There are over 12,000 species of grass including common varieties such as Bermuda, fescue, rye, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass. Grass provides ground cover and food for grazing animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep.
Vegetables
Many of the vegetables humans consume are green when fresh. Vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli, peas, green beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, and asparagus all contain chlorophyll giving them a green pigment. Eating fresh green vegetables provides important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Dark leafy greens are especially nutritious. Here is a table of common green vegetables and their nutritional benefits:
| Green Vegetable | Nutritional Benefits |
|---|---|
| Spinach | High in iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, magnesium |
| Kale | High in vitamins A, C, K, antioxidants |
| Broccoli | High in vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium |
| Peas | High in fiber, protein, vitamins A, C, K, folate |
| Green Beans | High in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese |
| Brussels Sprouts | High in vitamins C, K, folate, manganese, fiber |
| Cabbage | High in vitamins C, K, folate, manganese, fiber |
| Lettuce | High in vitamin K, folate |
| Cucumber | High in vitamin K, manganese, magnesium |
| Zucchini | High in manganese, vitamin C, magnesium |
| Asparagus | High in folate, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K |
Fruit
While most ripe fruit takes on colors like red, orange, yellow, or purple, there are some fruits that remain green when fully mature. Green fruits include honeydew melon, kiwi, granny smith apples, and green grapes. Unripe citrus fruits like limes, lemons, and green papaya are often used in cuisine while still green. The chlorophyll in the outer peel gives these fruits a green tint before they ripen into bright oranges, yellows, and reds.
Algae
Algae are plant-like aquatic organisms that contain chlorophyll and require sunlight to live and grow. Most algae are green, lending a green hue to bodies of water where they proliferate. Green algae can be single-celled or grow into large, multi-celled seaweeds. Green algae are found floating on the surface of ponds and lakes, clinging to coral reefs, and carpeting the seabed. Common green algae include sea lettuce, ulva, and enteromorpha which are consumed by humans. Spirulina and chlorella are nutrient-dense green algae used in supplements.
Reptiles
While most reptiles have scales in shades of brown, gray, black, or olive green, there are some lizards and snakes that display bright green coloration. The green anole is a small lizard with the ability to change colors from brown to vivid green. It turns green when active to camouflage itself in trees and foliage. The emerald tree boa of the Amazon rainforest has striking neon green scales. Other green reptiles include the green tree python, the green iguana, and the green sea turtle.
Amphibians
Many species of frogs and salamanders are bright green. Their green skin allows them to blend in with plants and avoid predators. Poison dart frogs exhibit some of the most brilliant green hues and secrete a poison through their skin as defense. The green tree frog is a bright green color that can range from lime to emerald. Green frogs have a distinct dark green blotching pattern. Salamanders like the green salamander and long-toed salamander are vibrant green with yellow highlights.
Insects
Insects display a huge diversity of green colors and patterns in nature. The green coloring often comes from a waxy coating on their exoskeleton for camouflage and protection. Some all-green insects include the green stink bug, the green shield bug, the green June beetle, and the green saddlebags dragonfly. Green caterpillars like the silkworm caterpillar and the tomato hornworm feed on leaves. Praying mantises also come in bright green varieties suited to blending in with leafy plants as they lie in ambush.
Butterflies & Moths
Many different butterflies and moths exhibit green wings and markings. Some common North American species include the stripe-streaked swallowtail, the pipevine swallowtail, the green comma, the buckeye butterfly, the malachite butterfly, the greenish blue wing butterfly, the pink-edged sulphur moth, the rosy maple moth, and the imperial moth.
Birds
Parrots are the birds we most associate with green plumage, especially green macaws, conures, budgies, and Amazons. However, there are many other bird species that have green feathers such as the emerald toucanet, the green jay, the green heron, the green-backed trogon, the green kingfisher, and the green broadbill. Many parrots’ bright green coloration comes from the pigments in the fruits, seeds, and nuts they eat.
Fish
Green is a common color in fish that live among coral reefs and sea grasses. The green coloring helps disguise them from predators and prey. Examples include green chromis, surgeonfish, parrotfish, wrasses, groupers, and trumpetfish. Many sharks are also green-colored such as the green lanternshark, scalloped hammerhead, nurse shark, and great white shark, which has a greenish gray backside.
Trees
Coniferous evergreen trees remain green year-round. Common evergreen trees with green needles include pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, redwood, cypress, and cedar. Deciduous trees also take on lush green hues when their leaves sprout in spring and summer. Popular green-leafed trees include oak, maple, birch, beech, ash, elm, cottonwood, and poplar. Palm trees have iconic green fronds. Weeping willows and many shrubs also have green leaves.
Moss
Moss blankets the ground and grows on logs and rocks in shady, moist forests across the world. Most mosses are different shades of green. They contain chlorophyll but lack vascular tissue and roots. Common types of green moss include sphagnum moss, cushion moss, clubmoss, Irish moss, reindeer moss, and sheet moss, to name a few.
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms made of algae or cyanobacteria and fungi living symbiotically. Lichens take on many green hues and grow on rocks and trees throughout nature. The green algae provide the green color. Common green lichens are oakmoss, reindeer lichen, and map lichen.
Seas & Oceans
The world’s oceans and seas often appear green from vast phytoplankton blooms and green algae floating near the surface. However, pure ocean water is actually blue. It only appears green in areas with high concentrations of microalgae. The Greenland Sea, the Celtic Sea, and the North Atlantic Ocean are examples of bodies of water named for their greenish cast.
Jade
Jade is a green mineral highly prized around the world. Jadeite and nephrite are the two main varieties. Jade ranges from dark green to nearly white. The vibrant green of jadeite comes from traces of iron and chromite. Jade has been used ornamentally and ceremonially for thousands of years in China, New Zealand, Central America, and the ancient Olmec civilization.
Malachite
Malachite is a striking green banded mineral often used for jewelry and ornaments. The vibrant green bands result from copper. Large malachite deposits are found in Zambia, Russia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vibrant green stone takes a high polish and has been used since ancient times. Malachite’s deep green color inspired its name which derives from the Greek word for mallow plants.
Emerald
Emerald is a rare, lustrous green gemstone in the beryl mineral family. Its gorgeous green comes from traces of chromium and vanadium. Emeralds often form in pegmatites and metamorphic deposits. Colombia and Zambia are major producers of the green gemstones. Emeralds have been treasured for thousands of years and were popular with Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptians, and the Incan civilization.
Peridot
Peridot is the birthstone for August and gets its verdant green from the mineral olivine. It’s sometimes called “evening emerald” for its vivid light green hue. Most peridot forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is ejected in lava. Notable deposits are found in China, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona which is the largest producer. Peridot has been used in jewelry for over 3,500 years.
Green Fluorite
Fluorite is a mineral that commonly occurs in cubic crystals. While fluorite comes in many colors, the green variety has a crisp, intense hue. Green fluorite’s color comes from elemental fluorine taking the place of hydroxyl ions in the crystal lattice. Significant deposits of green fluorite have been found in Rosiclare, Illinois and Quzhou, China. Fluorite’s fluorescence under UV light adds to its beauty.
Amazonite
Amazonite is a green variety of microcline feldspar. It displays vivid green to turquoise coloring sometimes in striking color gradations. Amazonite is named after the Amazon River since it was originally thought to come from the area. Major sources are located in Pikes Peak, Colorado; Madagascar; and Russia. Amazonite beads, cabochons, and ornamental carvings are popular.
Prasiolite
Prasiolite, also known as vermarine, is a rare green variety of quartz. It naturally occurs when amethyst quartz is transformed into green quartz under heat or irradiation. Most commercial prasiolite comes from amethyst heated in laboratories. Naturally-occurring prasiolite is uncommon, found mainly in Lower Silesia, Poland. Prasiolite is one of the rarest green-hued gems.
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony quartz that contains trace amounts of nickel. This gives it an intense apple-green to jade-green color. Most high-quality chrysoprase comes from nickel-rich talc deposits in Australia. Chrysoprase’s translucency, luster, and refreshing green have made it popular in jewelry and beads since ancient times. The gem’s name comes from the Greek words for “gold” and “leek”.
Green Aventurine
Aventurine is a type of translucent natural quartz containing mica flakes that make it shimmer. Green aventurine contains green fuchsite or chromium mica particles that make it green. High-quality green aventurine comes from India. Aventurine is popular for cabochons, beads, carvings, and ornamental objects. Its name comes from the Italian “a ventura” meaning “by chance”.
Bloodstone
Bloodstone is green chalcedony with red speckles of iron oxide inclusions. Historic sources were in India, but most modern bloodstone comes from Australia and Brazil. Bloodstone’s green color comes from chlorite particles present when it forms. The “blood” in its name refers to the red inclusions’ resemblance to blood. Bloodstone was treasured in the ancient Near East and medieval Europe for talismans.
Serpentine
Serpentine refers to a group of metamorphic hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals. It often occurs in fibrous aggregates, giving it a scaly texture resembling snakeskin, leading to its name. Serpentine comes in colors ranging from yellow-green to dark green. The green color results from iron ions. High-quality serpentine historically came from Italy. It’s popular for carvings and ornamental objects.
Variscite
Variscite is an uncommon green phosphate mineral that forms in nodules in clay or sandstone. Its color ranges from emerald green to bluish green. Variscite’s green shades come from traces of chromium and vanadium. High-quality variscite has been found in Utah and Nevada in the United States. Variscite is carved into ornamental items and polished into cabochons for jewelry. The deep green stone has been used since ancient times.
Green Garnets
Garnets commonly occur in red, but varieties known as tsavorite and demantoid are prized for their vivid green color. Tsavorite’s striking green comes from vanadium and chromium. The best tsavorites hail from Kenya and Tanzania. Demantoid gets its bright green from traces of chromium and often has distinctive inclusions. The horsetails demantoids of Russia’s Ural Mountains are most prized.
Dioptase
Dioptase is an opaque copper cyclosilicate mineral known for its intense green color and luster. Its vivid green comes from copper. Most dioptase forms in arid regions of Namibia, Kazakhstan, and Arizona’s Mule Mountains via chemical reactions in groundwater. Because pure crystals are uncommon, dioptase is more of a collector’s stone but still used for carvings and jewelry.
Green Tourmaline
Tourmaline occurs in virtually every color, and vibrant green varieties include verdelite and chrome tourmaline. The green color comes from chromium, vanadium, or iron. Significant green tourmaline deposits have been found in Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United States, and Africa. Green tourmaline is valued for jewelry and ornamental carvings.
Moldavite
Moldavite is an olive-green to bottle-green mineral that formed from meteorite impacts in Eastern Europe around 15 million years ago. It’s a type of tektite, a natural glass formed by meteorites hitting the Earth. Moldavite has a rich green color caused by iron oxides. The largest deposits are around the Moldau River in the Czech Republic. Moldavite is used for jewelry, carvings, and metaphysical purposes.
Unakite
Unakite is an altered granite composed of green epidote, pink orthoclase feldspar, and clear quartz. It displays a mix