Thistle

HEX: #D8BFD8 | Modern Palette

On White
1.70:1
FAIL
On Black
12.36:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#D8BFD8
RGB
216, 191, 216
HSL
300°, 24% ,79%
CMYK
0, 12, 0, 15

About Thistle

Thistle (#D8BFD8) is a color with RGB(216, 191, 216) and HSL(300°, 24.3%, 79.8%). In design, it fits Pastel, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #BFD8BF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #D8D8BF and #BFD8D8. The name comes from Thistle (English).

  • HEX: #D8BFD8
  • RGB: 216, 191, 216
  • HSL: 300°, 24.3%, 79.8%
  • Style: Pastel, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #BFD8BF
  • Triadic colors: #D8D8BF, #BFD8D8
  • The name comes from Thistle (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Thistle #D8BFD8 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.
 
 
 
THISTLE
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
THISTLE
 
 
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

Thistle #D8BFD8 pairs with #BFD8BF as its complementary color, and #D8D8BF and #BFD8D8 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.

THISTLE
Analogous

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

THISTLE
Triadic

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

THISTLE
Split-Complementary

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

THISTLE
Tetradic (Square)

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

THISTLE
Monochromatic

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

THISTLE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Thistle #D8BFD8 moves from dark #100A10 tones through the base color to lighter #F5EFF5 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

THISTLE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Pastel Warm
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #C7C7D7
Protanopia #C2C2D8
Tritanopia #D5C2C2
Achromatopsia #C7C7C7

Frequently Asked Questions

Thistle (#D8BFD8) is a color with RGB(216, 191, 216) and HSL(300°, 24.3%, 79.8%).

#D8BFD8 pairs strongly with #BFD8BF as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#D8BFD8 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Pastel, Warm styles.

The name Thistle is linked to Thistle from English, meaning The color name 'Thistle' refers to the pale purple hue of the flower of the thistle plant..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Thistle
Meaning The color name 'Thistle' refers to the pale purple hue of the flower of the thistle plant.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The thistle, a prickly flowering plant, is the national emblem of Scotland, symbolizing resilience and defiance. Its flowers typically range from pale lilac to reddish-purple, inspiring this specific color designation. The adoption of 'Thistle' as a standardized color name reflects a broader trend in the late 19th century to name colors after natural objects, particularly flowers, to provide more evocative and precise descriptions.

First Recorded Use

The color name 'Thistle' first appeared in English as a color term in 1892, specifically in the publication 'A Dictionary of Color' by Robert Ridgway.

Cultural Associations

In Scottish culture, the thistle is a potent symbol, often associated with bravery and protection. The color 'Thistle' evokes a sense of natural beauty and a subtle, muted elegance, distinct from more vibrant purples. Its use in design often suggests a connection to nature or a soft, understated aesthetic.

Similar Named Colors
Pink Lavender #D8B2D1 ΔE 4.53
Languid Lavender #D6CADD ΔE 5.17
Queen Pink #E8CCD7 ΔE 5.96
Classic Rose #FBCCE7 ΔE 7.12

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #D8BFD8;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #D8BFD8;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #D8BFD8;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #D8BFD8,
        #BFD8BF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #D8BFD8,
        #BFD8BF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$thistle: #D8BFD8;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$thistle-r: 216;
$thistle-g: 191;
$thistle-b: 216;

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