Lavender
A pale purple named for the lavender flower, with many subtle variations
Lavender is a pale, cool-toned purple that takes its name from the lavender plant. The colour covers a range of soft purples, often with blue or grey hints, and is used in art, design, and symbolism. Its name first appeared in English in the early 1700s, and it has since developed many recognised shades.
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- Named after the lavender plant
- First used as a colour name in 1705
- Symbolic in LGBTQ history
- Worn for half-mourning in Britain
- Covers a wide range of pale purples
What colour is Lavender?
Lavender sits among the lighter purples, with a gentle, cool appearance. It is often described as a soft purple with blue or grey undertones, and can sometimes lean slightly pink. The colour is named after the lavender flower, and the term covers a range of similar pale purples. Lavender is distinct from lilac, which tends to be a paler purple with more pink in it.
Where does Lavender come from?
The word 'lavender' was first used for a colour in English in 1705, originally referring only to the flower. Over time, the name expanded to cover a family of pale purples, especially those with a bluish or greyish cast. By the 20th century, several main shades were recognised, including floral lavender, lavender blue, lavender gray, and old lavender.
How Lavender is defined
In painting, lavender is created by mixing purple with white. The web colour called lavender matches the palest part of the lavender flower, while a deeper version, floral lavender, is closer to the average colour of the plant. Different systems and designers may use slightly different mixes to define lavender for digital or printed use.
Where Lavender is used
Lavender appears in art, textiles, and digital design. It is also used in fashion, especially in contexts where a muted, gentle colour is wanted. In Britain, it was once a common choice for half-mourning dress. Lavender is found in cosmetics and is sometimes chosen for its calm, soothing look.
What Lavender means
Lavender has several meanings depending on context. In Britain, it was worn during periods of half-mourning, when black was no longer required but sombre colours were still expected. Lavender roses can stand for love at first sight. The colour is also associated with the LGBTQ community, especially in the United States, where it has symbolised homosexuality since the mid-20th century.
How Lavender feels
Our sources tie Lavender to calm, love. Such links differ from one culture to the next.
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 Lavender
Lavender comes in many forms, from floral lavender (the classic shade) to lavender blue, lavender gray, and old lavender. Other related colours include amethyst, heliotrope, wisteria, and lavender pink. Lilac is similar but has a warmer, pinker tone. Some shades, like lavender blush or lavender mist, are even paler.
Colours that go with Lavender
Harmonies are worked out from the value #9966CC. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Lavender
What colour is lavender?
Lavender is a soft, pale purple with blue or grey undertones, named after the flower. It can range from bluish to pinkish purples, but always stays on the cooler side.
Where does the name lavender come from?
The name comes from the lavender plant, whose flowers have a distinctive pale purple colour. The word was first used for the colour in English in 1705.
What does lavender symbolise?
Lavender has stood for mourning in British dress, love at first sight with lavender roses, and is a symbol for the LGBTQ community, especially in the United States.
How is lavender made in art?
Artists mix purple with white paint to create lavender. The exact shade can vary depending on the ratio and the base purple used.
Are there different types of lavender?
Yes, there are many shades, including floral lavender, lavender blue, lavender gray, and old lavender. Each has its own mix of blue, pink, or grey tones.
Good reading and sources
- Lavender (color) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lavender (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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