We’re surrounded by colors everywhere we look. While many of the most colorful items are man-made creations, there are just as many beautiful colors in nature. With a wide range of vibrant plants, animals, and natural landmarks, there are plenty of popular colors named after things in nature.
Forest Green and Ocean Blue are just a few of the most obvious shades. Yet there are many others we tend to forget are named after the natural world. So, let’s take a look at some incredible nature-inspired color names. You can use these hues to create a colorful nature scene.
1. Forest Green
Forest Green
Hex #014421
RGB 1, 68, 33
CMYK 99, 0, 51, 73
Forest Green is traditionally used to describe a dark, rich shade of green, although some versions are much lighter than others. This popular nature color has existed in the English language since 1810, and it’s meant to represent the average color of leaves in temperate and deciduous forests. Looking at it might remind you of being surrounded by dense trees in the middle of the forest, so for some, this color is peaceful, while others find it a bit ominous.
2. Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue
Hex #005477
RGB 0, 84, 119
CMYK 100, 29, 0, 53
Like Forest Green, Ocean Blue is a color name that takes on many forms. It’s commonly perceived as a dark blue to represent the depths of the ocean, but other times, it’s seen as a lighter blue to represent the water near the surface. Most of the ocean is completely dark, which is why the darker Ocean Blue versions make more sense. How someone feels about the ocean can influence their associations with this color, but most people find it calming and hopeful, like most other blue hues.
3. Sage Green
Sage Green
Hex #98A869
RGB 152, 168, 105
CMYK 10, 0, 38, 34
Sage is a light green plant that’s often used as a spice and herb. Dried sage leaves can act as a seasoning for food dishes, but ingesting sage is also believed to provide a wide range of benefits. This versatile perennial plant has a color named after it that resembles the hue of its leaves. When people see Sage Green, they often feel peaceful and at one with nature.
4. Chestnut
Chestnut
Hex #954535
RGB 149, 69, 53
CMYK 0, 54, 64, 42
Chestnuts are more than just something you roast over the fire in Christmas songs. A chestnut is a nut-bearing tree, and the large nuts it produces are edible. While many people think of nuts as food, they come from nature just like any other plant. The color Chestnut is named after the warm brown hue of the famous nuts. It’s most commonly used to describe hair color, but you may also see it describing other objects, such as furniture.
5. Ginger
Ginger
Hex #B06500
RGB 176, 101, 0
CMYK 0, 43, 100, 31
People might associate ginger with the color, a cute name for a pet, a natural remedy, or a food ingredient. While all those things may be true, ginger is also part of nature. Ginger is a flowering plant, and its roots are the part we ingest. Ginger roots look yellowish-brown, which is likely how this color got its name after the plant.
6. Sunflower
Sunflower
Hex #FAE033
RGB 250, 224, 51
CMYK 0, 10, 80, 2
The bright yellow hue of the color called Sunflower is meant to mimic the petals of the large plants. It also looks similar to the bright yellow color the sun is often depicted in. Like many types of yellow, this color spreads happiness and positivity. It could also signify friendship, vitality, and intelligence.
7. Marigold
Marigold
Hex #EAA221
RGB 234, 162, 33
CMYK 0, 31, 86, 8
Marigold is another color named after a popular flower. Marigold flowers can come in a wide range of hues, but they’re most commonly associated with shades of yellow and orange, hence the dark yellow appearance of this color. While this color can represent joy, it’s not as bright as other yellows, which gives it a wider variety of symbolism, including power, strength, and light.
8. Olive Green
Olive Green
Hex #636B2F
RGB 99, 107, 47
CMYK 7, 0, 56, 58
Olive Green is one of the most popular shades of green out there. It’s a muted dark green that resembles the color of green olives, a popular food that comes from small trees. Since this green doesn’t stand out as much as brighter greens, it’s often used as a background color or worn by soldiers to help them blend in. It’s a color that can evoke calmness because of its association with nature.
9. Peach
Peach
Hex #FFD3AC
RGB 255, 211, 172
CMYK 0, 17, 33, 0
While many people perceive this hue as a flesh color, it’s named after the popular fruit that grows on peach trees. Overall, peaches don’t look the same as this color because their exterior skin is usually closer to orange or yellow-pink. However, the color was named after the fruit’s interior flesh, which has a much lighter tint.
10. Robin Egg Blue
Robin Egg Blue
Hex #96DED1
RGB 150, 222, 209
CMYK 32, 0, 6, 13
Robin eggs are naturally so blue that they look like decorative eggs or egg-shaped candy. The unusual hue is caused by a pigment known as biliverdin, and it’s believed that the coloring may protect the developing chicks from sunlight. Like most blue tints, Robin Egg Blue is a peaceful color that promotes relaxation and tranquility.
11. Fawn
Fawn
Hex #E5AA70
RGB 229, 170, 112
CMYK 0, 26, 51, 10
The term fawn refers to a young deer and to its yellowish-brown color. It was first used as a word for deer, and the color received its name due to its similarity to a fawn’s coat. Both versions of the word have been around for a while, with the color name appearing as early as 1789. Fawn is sometimes used to describe other hair colors, such as a dog’s coat color.
12. Meadow Green
Meadow Green
Hex #739957
RGB 115, 153, 87
CMYK 25, 0 , 43, 40
Meadows can appear as just about any type of green, depending on what plants are there. However, Meadow Green usually describes a soft, light green hue. This color can make people feel balanced and refreshed, similar to how you might feel when frolicking through a meadow.
13. Clover
Clover
Hex #207337
RGB 32, 115, 55
CMYK 72, 0, 52, 55
Like meadows, clovers can vary in shades of green. The most common hue for the name Clover is a rich, dark green, but not quite as dark as Forest Green. This green may be dark, but it’s still upbeat and playful, making people feel lucky and hopeful, just like a natural four-leaf clover can.
14. Grape
Grape
Hex #6F2DA8
RGB 111, 45, 168
CMYK 34, 73, 0, 34
The color Grape more closely resembles cartoon grapes or grape-flavored snacks, not real grapes. In real life, grapes are often purple, but they’re closer to reddish-purple or very dark purple. We have learned to associate grapes with the color purple, so the color named after the fruit is an exaggerated version of that hue.
15. Charcoal
Charcoal
Hex #36454F
RGB 54, 69, 79
CMYK 32, 13, 0, 69
Charcoal is produced by heating natural materials, such as wood. It’s typically depicted as a deep gray, sometimes with a hint of blue. The color Charcoal is a beautiful, mysterious shade inspired by the natural material it’s named after. Since it’s such a bold color, it symbolizes strength and power.
16. Camel
Camel
Hex #C19A6B
RGB 193, 154, 107
CMYK 0, 20, 45, 24
Camel has been used as a color name since 1916. Of course, it’s named after the hair color of the large desert animal. Even though some camels have different coat colors, warm light brown is the most common, which is how this color name came to be. Many people use Camel for interior painting because it’s a cozy neutral hue.
17. Lobster Red
Lobster Red
Hex #CC2C18
RGB 204, 44, 24
CMYK 0, 78, 88, 20
Lobster Red is the color cartoon lobsters are typically depicted as. However, living wild lobsters aren’t red at all. Instead, they’re usually a muddy brown color, sometimes with hints of green, yellow, and blue. Lobsters only turn red when cooked, so this famous lobster hue actually refers to lobster dishes at restaurants rather than animals in the wild.
18. Coral
Coral
Hex #FF7F50
RGB 255, 127, 80
CMYK 0, 50, 69, 0
The color called Coral is a mix of orange and pink, inspired by some of the coral you’ll find underwater. While coral reefs typically have a rainbow of colors, this is the hue most commonly associated with them. This delicate color is usually perceived as warm, tranquil, and peaceful, making it a fun color to relax near.
19. Autumn Maple
Autumn Maple
Hex #C46316
RGB 196, 99, 22
CMYK 0, 49, 89, 23
This color evokes thoughts of all things autumn, including changing leaves, the smell of pumpkins, and fresh maple syrup. Many people perceive fall as a cozy season because it’s the perfect time to curl up in a blanket and admire the foliage. So, this warm orange-brown color can have the same effects.
20. Wisteria
Wisteria
Hex #C9A0DC
RGB 201, 160, 220
CMYK 9, 27, 0, 14
Wisteria is named after the purple flowering plant that’s native to Japan. It’s a pale violet hue that offers elegance and sophistication. The name Wisteria gives off a whimsical vibe, adding to the charm of both the flower and the color.
21. Lilac
Lilac
Hex #C8A2C8
RGB 200, 162, 200
CMYK 0, 19, 0, 22
Lilac is a popular purple variant, similar to Wisteria but softer and more pink-toned. This color is named after the popular flowering shrub, which typically displays a light purple hue. Lilac became a color name in 1775, but many people disagreed on the exact shade since lilac flowers can vary in shades and tints of purple. This hue is calm and serene, much like the plants themselves.
22. Blackberry
Blackberry
Hex #4D0036
RGB 77, 0, 54
CMYK 0, 100, 30, 70
Despite being called blackberries, these small fruits aren’t exactly black. They usually appear as a very dark purple instead, especially the juice inside them, making them a beautiful hue to name a color after. Blackberry gives off elegance and sophistication in a warm and inviting way.
23. Raspberry
Raspberry
Hex #E30B5D
RGB 227, 11, 93
CMYK 0, 95, 59, 11
Even though raspberries typically appear as red or light pink, the color Raspberry is a bold, saturated pink, making it much pinker than the real fruits. It’s the color that raspberry-flavored treats typically appear as, and it makes the hue seem extra sweet.
24. Malachite
Malachite
Hex #3C7A6E
RGB 60, 122, 110
CMYK 51, 0, 10, 52
You might’ve never heard the term malachite before, but it’s a beautiful item in nature. Malachite is a natural gemstone that’s a mixture of blue and green. The gemstone was named after the Greek word for mallow due to its resemblance to the color of the mallow plant’s leaves. This color can symbolize the perfect mix of luxury and tranquility.
25. Swamp Green
Swamp Green
Hex #778800
RGB 119, 136, 0
CMYK 12, 0, 100, 47
Swamp Green might not be the most traditionally appealing color, but it’s named after the plants that grow in damp environments. It’s a yellow-green hue that’s close to some colors considered less attractive. Despite that, it can symbolize nature and health.
