Heliotrope
A pinkish-purple shade named for the heliotrope flower
Heliotrope is a pink-purple colour inspired by the blossoms of the heliotrope plant. The name first appeared in English in 1882 and has since described a range of tints close to the flower’s hue, sometimes used in clothing and cultural references.
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- Named after the heliotrope flower
- First used as a colour name in English in 1882
- Has several related shades, such as heliotrope gray and old helio
- Mentioned in literature and television
What colour is Heliotrope?
Heliotrope is a colour that sits between pink and purple, taking its name from the heliotrope flower. It is lighter and more vivid than many purples, with a noticeable pinkish tint. The shade is distinct from both pure pink and pure purple, standing out for its floral origin and soft, bright appearance.
Where does Heliotrope come from?
The name 'heliotrope' comes from the flower of the same name, which displays a similar pink-purple shade. English speakers began using the word for this colour in 1882. Over time, the term has come to cover several related tints, all echoing the look of the heliotrope plant’s petals.
Where Heliotrope is used
Heliotrope has appeared in literature, television, and music as a descriptive colour. It was once chosen for clothing, particularly in specific social customs. The shade is also referenced in medical terms, such as the 'heliotrope rash' in certain conditions, due to its resemblance to the flower’s colour.
Purple around the world
What the purple and violet family means from country to country.
In Holy Week, members of religious brotherhoods walk in procession in robes and pointed hoods, many of them purple, the colour of penance. A purple band also marked the flag of the Second Republic.
Sacred and holyPolitics and protestSource: Holy Week in SpainSuffragettes campaigning for women's votes wore purple, white and green: purple for dignity, white for purity and green for hope.
Politics and protestCourageSource: SuffragetteA child born to a reigning Byzantine emperor was called porphyrogennetos, born in the purple. The birth took place in a palace room lined with purple stone.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Born in the purpleIn the elections of 2005, voters dipped a finger in purple ink to prevent double voting. The stained finger, held up for cameras, became a sign of the vote.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Election inkPurple dye from the murasaki plant was costly and hard to make. In the court rank system set up under Prince Shotoku, the highest officials wore purple caps.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Twelve Level Cap and Rank SystemThe Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon made Tyrian purple from sea snails. The dye was so costly that it became the colour of kings and Roman emperors.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Tyrian purpleShades and relatives of Heliotrope
There are several related shades, including 'heliotrope gray', first named in 1912, and 'old helio', recorded in 1926. These variants shift the balance between purple and grey or deepen the tone, but all remain close to the original flower-inspired hue.
Colours that go with Heliotrope
Harmonies are worked out from the value #DF73FF. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Heliotrope
What colour is heliotrope?
Heliotrope is a pinkish-purple shade, similar to the colour of the heliotrope flower’s petals.
Where does the name heliotrope come from?
The name comes from the heliotrope plant, whose blossoms have a pink-purple colour. The term was first used for the colour in English in 1882.
Are there different types of heliotrope?
Yes, related shades include heliotrope gray and old helio, each with slight differences in tone but all based on the original flower’s colour.
Where is heliotrope used?
It appears in cultural references, clothing, and medical descriptions, often chosen for its distinctive floral hue.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Heliotrope (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryRang 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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