Maize
A yellow named for the colour of maize grains, ranging from pale to golden
Maize is a yellow shade named after the cereal grain maize, also called corn in North America. The colour can range from a light yellow to a deeper tone close to orange, reflecting the variety of maize kernels. First recorded as a colour name in English in 1861, maize is notably used by the University of Michigan for its school colours.
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- Named for the colour of maize (corn) kernels
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1861
- Official colour of the University of Michigan alongside blue
- Ranges from pale yellow to deep golden yellow
What colour is Maize?
Maize is a shade of yellow that takes its name from the maize plant, known as corn in the United States and Canada. The colour covers a range from pale yellow to a deeper, almost orange tone, mirroring the natural variation in maize kernels. It stands apart from other yellows by its link to the cereal and its use as a reference point for describing similar shades.
Where does Maize come from?
The name maize comes from the cereal grain native to the Americas. In English, the colour was first called maize in 1861. In North America, the word 'corn' is used for the same plant, which is why the colour is also sometimes called corn. The shade is chosen for its resemblance to the kernels of maize, which can vary in colour.
Where Maize is used
Maize is used in a variety of settings, including art and textiles, where it can describe anything from paint to fabric. It is also a prominent colour in university flags and sports livery, most famously by the University of Michigan, which pairs maize with blue as its official colours. The shade is chosen for its visibility and its contrast with blue.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
Many First Nations use the medicine wheel, a circle in four parts. A common form has yellow, red, black and white quarters for the four directions, though the colours vary between nations.
Sacred and holySource: Medicine wheel (symbol)A yellow ribbon tied round a tree or pinned to a coat means someone is waiting for a loved one to come home. It spread during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 to 1981.
Protection and healingLove and desireHopeSource: Yellow ribbonSchool buses across the country are painted one shade of yellow, agreed at a conference in 1939 because black lettering on it is easy to read in early morning light.
Protection and healingSource: School bus yellowThe 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 FalgunShades and relatives of Maize
Maize is sometimes confused with other yellows, especially those that lean towards orange. In public use, it may refer to any shade from light yellow to a deeper golden tone, depending on the type of maize being referenced. The exact shade has varied over time, especially in institutional uses.
Colours that go with Maize
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FBEC5D. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Maize
What colour is maize?
Maize is a shade of yellow that can range from pale yellow to a deeper golden tone, similar to the colour of maize (corn) kernels.
Where does the name maize come from?
The name comes from the cereal grain maize, which is called corn in the United States and Canada. The colour is named for the typical shade of maize kernels.
When was maize first used as a colour name?
Maize was first recorded as a colour name in English in 1861.
Where is maize used as a colour?
Maize is used in art, textiles, and as an official colour for flags and sports livery, notably by the University of Michigan.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Maize (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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