Dark Goldenrod

HEX: #B8860B | Modern Palette

On White
3.25:1
FAIL
On Black
6.45:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#B8860B
RGB
184, 134, 11
HSL
42°, 88% ,38%
CMYK
0, 27, 94, 28

About Dark Goldenrod

Dark Goldenrod (#B8860B) is a color with RGB(184, 134, 11) and HSL(42.7°, 88.7%, 38.2%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #0B3DB8, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #0BB886 and #860BB8. The name comes from Dark Goldenrod (English).

  • HEX: #B8860B
  • RGB: 184, 134, 11
  • HSL: 42.7°, 88.7%, 38.2%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #0B3DB8
  • Triadic colors: #0BB886, #860BB8
  • The name comes from Dark Goldenrod (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Dark Goldenrod #B8860B is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
DARK GOLDENROD
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
DARK GOLDENROD
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Dark Goldenrod #B8860B pairs with #0B3DB8 as its complementary color, and #0BB886 and #860BB8 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

DARK GOLDENROD
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

DARK GOLDENROD
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

DARK GOLDENROD
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

DARK GOLDENROD
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

DARK GOLDENROD
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

DARK GOLDENROD

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Dark Goldenrod #B8860B moves from dark #181201 tones through the base color to lighter #FEF7E7 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

DARK GOLDENROD

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #979700
Protanopia #8D8D0E
Tritanopia #BD7E7E
Achromatopsia #8F8F8F

Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Goldenrod (#B8860B) is a color with RGB(184, 134, 11) and HSL(42.7°, 88.7%, 38.2%).

#B8860B pairs strongly with #0B3DB8 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#B8860B is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#B8860B is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Dark Goldenrod is linked to Dark Goldenrod from English, meaning A darker shade of the color 'goldenrod', which is named after the goldenrod plant..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Dark Goldenrod
Meaning A darker shade of the color 'goldenrod', which is named after the goldenrod plant.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century (as a named color)

History

The color 'goldenrod' itself is named after the plant of the same name, known for its vibrant yellow-gold flowers. As color palettes expanded and became more nuanced, modifiers like 'dark' were added to distinguish variations. 'Dark Goldenrod' gained significant recognition as an X11 color name, which was later adopted into web standards (HTML/CSS). This standardization cemented its place as a distinct, identifiable color.

First Recorded Use

The specific named color 'Dark Goldenrod' likely emerged with the standardization of color names for dyes, paints, and later, web colors. The general concept of a 'goldenrod' color existed earlier, but 'Dark Goldenrod' as a distinct, recognized shade is more modern.

Cultural Associations

Goldenrod colors often evoke feelings of autumn, harvest, warmth, and nature. They can be associated with rustic aesthetics, vintage styles, and natural dyes. 'Dark Goldenrod' specifically, with its deeper, richer tone, can convey a sense of maturity, richness, and earthy elegance. It's less bright than a pure yellow and more grounded, making it versatile for various design applications from fashion to home decor.

Similar Named Colors
University Of California Gold #B78727 ΔE 2.14
Vivid Amber #CC9900 ΔE 6.42
Harvest Gold #DA9100 ΔE 7.56
Lemon Curry #CCA01D ΔE 8.19

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #B8860B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #B8860B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #B8860B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #B8860B,
        #0B3DB8
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #B8860B,
        #0B3DB8
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$dark-goldenrod: #B8860B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$dark-goldenrod-r: 184;
$dark-goldenrod-g: 134;
$dark-goldenrod-b: 11;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $dark-goldenrod;
    color: rgba($dark-goldenrod-r, $dark-goldenrod-g, $dark-goldenrod-b, 0.8);
}