Abstract: In order to explore the mechanism of leaf colour formation in colored leaf tree species，the Acer cappadocicum var. tricaudatum，A. kweilinense Fang et Fang f. ，A. buergerianum var. ningpoense，A. cinnamomifolium Hayata，Dipteronia sinensis Oliv. ，A. elegantulum var. macrurum，A. grosseri var. hersii，A. truncatum Bunge，A. coriaceifolium Levl. ，A. tenellum Pax，A. oblongum Wall. ，A. davidii Franch. ，A. fabri Hance，A. oliverianum Pax，A. laevigatum Wall. ，A. serrulatum 'Bicolor’，A. palmatum Thunb. ，A. paxii Franch. were chosen as the study objects. The differences of photosynthetic pigment contents of different Acer species and the correlations between them and SPAD values were compared. The results showed that the differences of photosynthetic pigment contents (chlorophyll a，chlorophyll b，total chlorophyll，carotenoids and anthocyanin) and SPAD values among the 18 Acer species were extremely significant (P＜0. 001). The content of chlorophyll a of A. cinnamomifolium Hayata，A. elegantulum var. macrurum and A. tenellum Pax was higher；the content of chlorophyll b，total chlorophyll，and carotenoids of A. elegantulum var. macrurum and A. tenellum Pax was higher；the content of anthocyanin of A. serrulatum 'Bicolor’ and A. palmatum Thunb. was significantly higher (P＜0. 05)，with 16. 04 and 20. 89 unit·g^-1，respectively；the SPAD values of A. fabri Hance，A. grosseri var. hersii and A. cappadocicum var. tricaudatum and A. laevigatum Wall were higher. The correlation analysis showed the relationships of carotene contents and the contents of chlorophyll a，chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were extremely significantly positive among 18 Acer species (P＜0. 01). The relationships of SPAD values and the contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were significantly positive. This study may provide a scientific guideline for the breeding and the forestation configuration of color leaf tree species.