by 
The Curious Bag
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Most trees and plants have green leaves so that they can effectively carry out photosynthesis, which is the process by which plants create there own food. A few plants, such as the Japanese Maple tree, have leaves that are red under most conditions. Japanese maples, not all maples, have red leaves. This leaves many to wonder how these trees carry out photosynthesis.
Why Most Leaves Are Green
Most leaves have an excess of chlorophyll a and b, the main pigments involved in photosynthesis. These pigments are green and their color shows most prominently in the leaves.
Why Japanese Maple Leaves Are Red Year Round
Japanese maple leaves contain anthocyanins, which are nonphotosynthetic plant pigments that act as "sunscreen" to shield the cells from light damage.
All Trees Have Chlorophyll a and b.
Japanese Maple trees produce chlorophyll a and b like all other trees, just not in the same high quantities. It is overshadowed by the anthocyanins.
Sun Requirements
Because Japanese Maple trees produce less chlorophyll, they have slower metabolisms and require a lot of sun.
A Japanese Maple in the Shade
If a Japanese Maple is in the shade for several days in a row, its leaves will start to turn green. This is because they are producing more chlorophyll in an attempt to harvest more sun energy.
Source:
"Concepts and Connections in Biology": Campbell, Neil and Reece, Jane: 2004
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