diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/Quads.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/Quads.kt
index 4658385..041395e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/Quads.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/Quads.kt
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ data class Color(val alpha: Int, val red: Int, val green: Int, val blue: Int) {
     )
 
     val asInt get() = (alpha shl 24) or (red shl 16) or (green shl 8) or blue
+    val asHSB get() = HSB.fromColor(this)
+
     operator fun times(f: Float) = Color(
         alpha,
         (f * red.toFloat()).toInt().coerceIn(0 until 256),
@@ -93,6 +95,10 @@ data class HSB(var hue: Float, var saturation: Float, var brightness: Float) {
             val hsbVals = java.awt.Color.RGBtoHSB((color shr 16) and 255, (color shr 8) and 255, color and 255, null)
             return HSB(hsbVals[0], hsbVals[1], hsbVals[2])
         }
+        fun fromColor(color: Color): HSB {
+            val hsbVals = java.awt.Color.RGBtoHSB(color.red, color.green, color.blue, null)
+            return HSB(hsbVals[0], hsbVals[1], hsbVals[2])
+        }
     }
     val asInt: Int get() = java.awt.Color.HSBtoRGB(hue, saturation, brightness)
     val asColor: Color get() = Color(asInt)
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/TuftMeshes.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/TuftMeshes.kt
index 65780c1..f36db3d 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/TuftMeshes.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/model/TuftMeshes.kt
@@ -84,20 +84,20 @@ fun crossModelsRaw(num: Int, size: Double, hOffset: Double, vOffset: Double): Li
     }
 }
 
-fun crossModelSingle(base: List<Quad>, sprite: TextureAtlasSprite, tintIndex: Int,scrambleUV: Boolean) =
+fun crossModelSingle(base: List<Quad>, sprite: TextureAtlasSprite, color: Color, tint: Int, scrambleUV: Boolean) =
     base.map { if (scrambleUV) it.scrambleUV(random, canFlipU = true, canFlipV = true, canRotate = true) else it }
-        .map { it.colorIndex(tintIndex) }
+        .map { it.color(color).colorIndex(tint) }
         .mapIndexed { idx, quad -> quad.sprite(sprite) }
         .withOpposites()
         .bake(false)
 
 fun crossModelsTextured(
     leafBase: Iterable<List<Quad>>,
-    tintIndex: Int,
+    color: Color, tint: Int,
     scrambleUV: Boolean,
     spriteGetter: (Int) -> ResourceLocation
 ) = leafBase.mapIndexed { idx, leaf ->
-    crossModelSingle(leaf, Atlas.BLOCKS[spriteGetter(idx)], tintIndex, scrambleUV)
+    crossModelSingle(leaf, Atlas.BLOCKS[spriteGetter(idx)], color, tint, scrambleUV)
 }.toTypedArray()
 
 fun Iterable<Quad>.withOpposites() = flatMap { listOf(it, it.flipped) }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Cactus.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Cactus.kt
index 68f575d..d609f1e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Cactus.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Cactus.kt
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class StandardCactusModel(
                 crossModelsRaw(64, config.size, 0.0, 0.0)
                     .transform { rotateZ(randomD(-config.sizeVariation, config.sizeVariation)) }
             }
-            crossModelsTextured(models, -1, true) { cactusCrossSprite }
+            crossModelsTextured(models, Color.white, -1, true) { cactusCrossSprite }
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Grass.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Grass.kt
index a07723f..09315cd 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Grass.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Grass.kt
@@ -28,19 +28,24 @@ import mods.betterfoliage.util.averageHSB
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.idxOrNull
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazy
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazyMap
-import mods.betterfoliage.util.lighten
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.brighten
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.logTextureColor
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.randomI
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.RenderType
 import net.minecraft.util.Direction.DOWN
 import net.minecraft.util.Direction.UP
 import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level.INFO
 import java.util.Random
 
 object StandardGrassDiscovery : ParametrizedModelDiscovery() {
     override fun processModel(ctx: ModelDiscoveryContext, params: Map<String, String>) {
         val texture = params.location("texture") ?: return
         val tint = params.int("tint") ?: -1
-        val color = Atlas.BLOCKS.file(texture).averageHSB.lighten()
+        val color = Atlas.BLOCKS.file(texture).averageHSB.let {
+            detailLogger.logTextureColor(INFO, "grass texture \"$texture\"", it)
+            it.brighten().asColor
+        }
         ctx.addReplacement(StandardGrassKey(texture, tint, color))
         BetterFoliage.blockTypes.grass.add(ctx.blockState)
         ctx.blockState.block.extendLayers()
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Leaf.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Leaf.kt
index f1ba234..90c6086 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Leaf.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Leaf.kt
@@ -22,8 +22,12 @@ import mods.betterfoliage.resource.discovery.ModelDiscoveryContext
 import mods.betterfoliage.resource.discovery.ParametrizedModelDiscovery
 import mods.betterfoliage.resource.generated.GeneratedLeafSprite
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.Atlas
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.averageHSB
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazy
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazyMap
-import mods.betterfoliage.util.logColorOverride
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.brighten
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.logTextureColor
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.saturate
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.RenderType
 import net.minecraft.util.Direction.UP
 import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation
@@ -31,14 +35,19 @@ import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level.INFO
 
 object StandardLeafDiscovery : ParametrizedModelDiscovery() {
     override fun processModel(ctx: ModelDiscoveryContext, params: Map<String, String>) {
-        val leafSprite = params.location("texture-leaf") ?: return
-        val leafType = LeafParticleRegistry.typeMappings.getType(leafSprite) ?: "default"
-        val generated = GeneratedLeafSprite(leafSprite, leafType)
+        val texture = params.location("texture") ?: return
+        val tint = params.int("tint") ?: -1
+        val color = Atlas.BLOCKS.file(texture).averageHSB.let {
+            detailLogger.logTextureColor(INFO, "leaf texture \"$texture\"", it)
+            it.brighten().asColor
+        }
+        val leafType = LeafParticleRegistry.typeMappings.getType(texture) ?: "default"
+        val generated = GeneratedLeafSprite(texture, leafType)
             .register(BetterFoliage.generatedPack)
             .apply { ctx.sprites.add(this) }
 
         detailLogger.log(INFO, "     particle $leafType")
-        ctx.addReplacement(StandardLeafKey(generated, leafType, null))
+        ctx.addReplacement(StandardLeafKey(generated, leafType, tint, color))
         BetterFoliage.blockTypes.leaf.add(ctx.blockState)
     }
 }
@@ -46,10 +55,9 @@ object StandardLeafDiscovery : ParametrizedModelDiscovery() {
 data class StandardLeafKey(
     val roundLeafTexture: ResourceLocation,
     override val leafType: String,
-    override val overrideColor: Color?
+    override val tintIndex: Int,
+    override val avgColor: Color
 ) : HalfBakedWrapperKey(), LeafParticleKey {
-    val tintIndex: Int get() = if (overrideColor == null) 0 else -1
-
     override fun bake(ctx: ModelBakingContext, wrapped: SpecialRenderModel): SpecialRenderModel {
         return StandardLeafModel(wrapped, this)
     }
@@ -78,14 +86,16 @@ class StandardLeafModel(
         val leafSpritesSnowed by SpriteSetDelegate(Atlas.BLOCKS) { idx ->
             ResourceLocation(BetterFoliageMod.MOD_ID, "blocks/better_leaves_snowed_$idx")
         }
-        val leafModelsBase = BetterFoliage.modelManager.lazyMap { key: StandardLeafKey ->
+        val leafModelsBase by BetterFoliage.modelManager.lazy {
             Config.leaves.let { crossModelsRaw(64, it.size, it.hOffset, it.vOffset) }
         }
         val leafModelsNormal = BetterFoliage.modelManager.lazyMap { key: StandardLeafKey ->
-            crossModelsTextured(leafModelsBase[key], key.tintIndex, true) { key.roundLeafTexture }
+            // generated leaf textures naturally carry the color of their source textures
+            // no need to color the quad a second time
+            crossModelsTextured(leafModelsBase, Color.white, key.tintIndex, true) { key.roundLeafTexture }
         }
         val leafModelsSnowed = BetterFoliage.modelManager.lazyMap { key: StandardLeafKey ->
-            crossModelsTextured(leafModelsBase[key], -1, false) { leafSpritesSnowed[it].name }
+            crossModelsTextured(leafModelsBase, Color.white, -1, false) { leafSpritesSnowed[it].name }
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Mycelium.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Mycelium.kt
index 6bdf67a..8e0cf83 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Mycelium.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/block/vanilla/Mycelium.kt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import mods.betterfoliage.util.averageHSB
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.idxOrNull
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazy
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.lazyMap
-import mods.betterfoliage.util.lighten
+import mods.betterfoliage.util.brighten
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.randomI
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.RenderType
 import net.minecraft.util.Direction
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ object StandardMyceliumDiscovery : ParametrizedModelDiscovery() {
     override fun processModel(ctx: ModelDiscoveryContext, params: Map<String, String>) {
         val texture = params.location("texture") ?: return
         val tint = params.int("tint") ?: -1
-        val color = Atlas.BLOCKS.file(texture).averageHSB.lighten(multiplier = 1.5f)
+        val color = Atlas.BLOCKS.file(texture).averageHSB.brighten(multiplier = 1.5f).asColor
         ctx.addReplacement(StandardMyceliumKey(texture, tint, color))
         ctx.blockState.block.extendLayers()
     }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/AbstractParticle.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/AbstractParticle.kt
index f95d516..4ba728e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/AbstractParticle.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/AbstractParticle.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package mods.betterfoliage.render.particle
 
 import com.mojang.blaze3d.vertex.IVertexBuilder
+import mods.betterfoliage.model.Color
+import mods.betterfoliage.model.HSB
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.Double3
 import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft
 import net.minecraft.client.particle.SpriteTexturedParticle
@@ -92,10 +94,16 @@ abstract class AbstractParticle(world: ClientWorld, x: Double, y: Double, z: Dou
         renderVertex(coords[3], sprite.u0, sprite.v1)
     }
 
-    fun setColor(color: Int) {
-        bCol = (color and 255) / 256.0f
-        gCol = ((color shr 8) and 255) / 256.0f
-        rCol = ((color shr 16) and 255) / 256.0f
+    fun setColor(color: Color) {
+        rCol = color.red / 256.0f
+        gCol = color.green / 256.0f
+        bCol = color.blue / 256.0f
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Set particle color to the "stronger" of the given colors, determined by higher color saturation
+     */
+    fun setColor(color1: Color, color2: Color) =
+        setColor(if (color1.asHSB.saturation > color2.asHSB.saturation) color1 else color2)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/FallingLeaves.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/FallingLeaves.kt
index e1d8a89..90c35e7 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/FallingLeaves.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/FallingLeaves.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package mods.betterfoliage.render.particle
 
 import mods.betterfoliage.config.Config
+import mods.betterfoliage.model.Color
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.Double3
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.PI2
 import mods.betterfoliage.util.minmax
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ class FallingLeafParticle(
         yd = -Config.fallingLeaves.speed
 
         quadSize = Config.fallingLeaves.size.toFloat() * 0.1f
-        setColor(leaf.overrideColor?.asInt ?: blockColor)
+        if (leaf.tintIndex == -1) setColor(leaf.avgColor) else setColor(leaf.avgColor, Color(blockColor))
         sprite = LeafParticleRegistry[leaf.leafType][randomI(max = 1024)]
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/LeafParticleRegistry.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/LeafParticleRegistry.kt
index 0a766eb..0db5bed 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/LeafParticleRegistry.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/render/particle/LeafParticleRegistry.kt
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ interface LeafBlockModel {
 
 interface LeafParticleKey {
     val leafType: String
-    val overrideColor: Color?
+    val tintIndex: Int
+    val avgColor: Color
 }
 
 object LeafParticleRegistry : HasLogger(), VeryEarlyReloadListener {
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Misc.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Misc.kt
index a0a8af7..078d341 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Misc.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Misc.kt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 package mods.betterfoliage.util
 
 import mods.betterfoliage.BetterFoliageMod
+import mods.betterfoliage.model.HSB
 import net.minecraft.block.BlockState
 import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft
 import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ abstract class HasLogger {
     val detailLogger = BetterFoliageMod.detailLogger(this)
 }
 
+fun Logger.logTextureColor(level: Level, description: String, avgColor: HSB) {
+    val rgb = avgColor.asColor
+    log(level, "$description average color RGB[${rgb.red},${rgb.green},${rgb.blue}], HSB[${avgColor.hue},${avgColor.saturation},${avgColor.brightness}]")
+}
+
 fun getBlockModel(state: BlockState) = Minecraft.getInstance().blockRenderer.blockModelShaper.getBlockModel(state)
 /**
  * Check if the Chunk containing the given [BlockPos] is loaded.
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Sprites.kt b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Sprites.kt
index 77b73d3..1251e56 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Sprites.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/mods/betterfoliage/util/Sprites.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import java.io.IOException
 import javax.imageio.ImageIO
 import kotlin.math.atan2
 import kotlin.math.cos
+import kotlin.math.max
+import kotlin.math.min
 import kotlin.math.sin
 
 enum class Atlas(val resourceId: ResourceLocation) {
@@ -107,8 +109,10 @@ val ResourceLocation.averageHSB: HSB get() = resourceManager.loadSprite(this).le
     return HSB(avgHue, sumSaturation / numOpaque.toFloat(), sumBrightness / numOpaque.toFloat())
 }
 
-fun HSB.lighten(multiplier: Float = 2.0f, ceiling: Float = 0.9f) =
-    copy(brightness = (brightness * multiplier).coerceAtMost(ceiling)).asColor
+fun HSB.brighten(multiplier: Float = 1.5f, floor: Float = 0.1f, ceiling: Float = 0.9f) =
+    copy(brightness = (brightness * multiplier).coerceAtMost(max(ceiling, brightness)).coerceAtLeast(min(floor, brightness)))
+fun HSB.saturate(multiplier: Float = 1.5f, floor: Float = 0.1f, ceiling: Float = 0.9f) =
+    copy(saturation = (saturation * multiplier).coerceAtMost(max(ceiling, saturation)).coerceAtLeast(min(floor, saturation)))
 
 /** Weighted blend of 2 packed RGB colors */
 fun blendRGB(rgb1: Int, rgb2: Int, weight1: Int, weight2: Int): Int {
diff --git a/src/main/resources/assets/betterfoliage/config/betterfoliage/vanilla.rules b/src/main/resources/assets/betterfoliage/config/betterfoliage/vanilla.rules
index 8965e41..d95a17a 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/assets/betterfoliage/config/betterfoliage/vanilla.rules
+++ b/src/main/resources/assets/betterfoliage/config/betterfoliage/vanilla.rules
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ match block.class.extends(classOf("minecraft:oak_leaves")) setParam("type", "lea
 
 match isParam("type", "leaf")
 model.extends("minecraft:block/leaves", "minecraft:block/cube_all")
-setParam("texture-leaf", model.texture("all"))
-setParam("tint-leaf", model.tint("all"))
+setParam("texture", model.texture("all"))
+setParam("tint", model.tint("all"))
 end
 
 // Podzol