Thistle
A pale purple shade named for the thistle flower
Thistle is a light purple colour that takes its name from the thistle plant. It was first used as a colour name in English in 1892 and is linked with Scotland, where the thistle is the national flower and symbol.
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- Thistle is a light purple shade.
- Named after the thistle plant.
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1892.
- Closely associated with Scotland and its national flower.
What colour is Thistle?
Thistle is a soft, light purple shade that looks like the flower of the thistle plant. It stands out from deeper purples and violets by its paler, more muted appearance. The colour is gentle and subtle, making it distinct from brighter or darker purples. Its connection to the thistle flower gives it a natural, floral quality.
Where does Thistle come from?
The name 'thistle' for this colour comes from the thistle plant, known for its purple blooms. The first known use of thistle as a colour name in English dates back to 1892. Its association with Scotland is strong, as the thistle is the national flower and a national symbol. Scotland's highest state decoration is called the Order of the Thistle, further linking the colour to the country.
What Thistle means
Thistle is closely tied to Scotland, where the thistle plant is a national emblem. The colour itself is associated with Scottish identity because of this link, and the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's highest state decoration, draws on this symbolism. Outside of this, the sources do not mention other meanings or uses.
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 Thistle
Thistle is one of several light purples, and may be confused with other pale shades in the purple family. Its specific link to the thistle flower gives it a unique place among similar colours.
Colours that go with Thistle
Harmonies are worked out from the value #D8BFD8. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Thistle
What colour is thistle?
Thistle is a light, pale purple shade that resembles the flower of the thistle plant.
Where does the name 'thistle' for this colour come from?
The name comes from the thistle plant, which has purple blooms and is a national symbol of Scotland.
When was thistle first used as a colour name?
The first recorded use of thistle as a colour name in English was in 1892.
Is thistle linked to any country?
Yes, thistle is closely associated with Scotland, where the thistle is the national flower and symbol.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shades of purple" (the section "Thistle"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. 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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