Goldenrod
A strong yellow named for the goldenrod flower
Goldenrod is a yellow colour that takes its name from the goldenrod plant, reflecting the deeper shades found in some of its flowers. It was first recorded as a colour name in English in 1915 and is now a standard web colour and a Crayola crayon shade.
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- Named after the goldenrod plant's deeper flowers
- First recorded as a colour name in 1915
- Standard web colour with hex code #DAA520
- Crayola introduced a lighter goldenrod crayon in 1958
- Used for official papers by the Church of Scientology
What colour is Goldenrod?
Goldenrod is a strong yellow shade, inspired by the colour of some goldenrod plant flowers. It sits between yellow and orange, with a rich, warm tone that stands out from paler yellows or cooler golds. The colour is widely recognised in digital design and is also used as a crayon shade, though the crayon version is lighter than the web colour.
Where does Goldenrod come from?
The name 'goldenrod' comes from the goldenrod plant, whose deeper-coloured flowers resemble this shade. The first known use of the term for a colour in English dates back to 1915. Over time, goldenrod became established as a standard colour name for both web use and in products like Crayola crayons.
How Goldenrod is defined
As a web colour, goldenrod is defined by its hex code #DAA520, which sets its specific mix of red, green, and blue for digital screens. There is no single pigment or dye behind the colour; it is a value used in digital and print design to match the flower's deeper yellow tones.
Where Goldenrod is used
Goldenrod is used in web design, digital graphics, and as a named crayon colour. Its recognisable shade makes it useful for highlighting and decorative purposes. The Church of Scientology uses goldenrod-coloured paper for certain official declarations. It has also been referenced in popular culture, such as in television shows and video games.
What Goldenrod means
The sources do not tie goldenrod to any particular symbolic meaning in culture or emotion, though it is used in specific contexts such as official paperwork in the Church of Scientology.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Goldenrod
Related shades include light goldenrod yellow, pale goldenrod, light goldenrod, and dark goldenrod. These are lighter or darker versions of the main colour, each with its own web definition. Goldenrod is sometimes confused with gold or other strong yellows, but is distinct in its floral inspiration.
Colours that go with Goldenrod
Harmonies are worked out from the value #DAA520. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Goldenrod
What colour is goldenrod?
Goldenrod is a strong, warm yellow shade, inspired by the deeper flowers of the goldenrod plant. It sits between yellow and orange and is defined for screens by the hex code #DAA520.
Where does the name goldenrod come from?
The name comes from the goldenrod plant, as the colour resembles the deeper yellow of some of its flowers. The term was first used for a colour in English in 1915.
Is goldenrod the same as gold?
No, goldenrod is a strong yellow, not metallic like gold. It is richer than pale yellow but does not have the metallic sheen or deeper tone of gold.
What is goldenrod used for?
Goldenrod is used in web and digital design as a standard colour, and as a Crayola crayon shade. It is also used for official documents by the Church of Scientology.
Are there different shades of goldenrod?
Yes, there are lighter and darker versions such as light goldenrod yellow, pale goldenrod, light goldenrod, and dark goldenrod, each with its own web colour definition.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Goldenrod (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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