While at the same time for the ones of <select multiple> it works fine.
Why?
option {
background-image: linear-gradient(to top, white, pink);
}
<select>
<option>one</option>
<option>two</option>
<option>three</option>
</select>
<select multiple size="3">
<option>four</option>
<option>five</option>
<option>six</option>
</select>
P.S. Stackoverflow makes me to add more text for explanation. I guess the case is clear enough already.