In Western cultures, Cornflower Blue is often associated with peace and tranquility, symbolizing hope and understanding. Conversely, in some Eastern traditions, it can represent fidelity and love, showcasing its versatility across different cultural contexts.
The term 'cornflower blue' emerged in the late 19th century, named after the cornflower, or Centaurea cyanus, which was often used to create natural dyes. The shade gained prominence in the 1900s, particularly within the artistic community, being favored by artists for its vibrant and soothing qualities.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Cornflower Blue. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 45 Blues →Nine steps of Cornflower Blue by lightness — from #344D7B (darkest) to #AEC8F6 (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Cornflower Blue at 39° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Cornflower Blue.
Brands and institutions known for using Cornflower Blue.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Cornflower Blue anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.
Works well as text on dark backgrounds; fails on light.
Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.
Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.
color: cornflowerblue; color-mix(in srgb, cornflowerblue 70%, white) 219°, 58%, 93% 58, 37, 0, 7 6591981 #6699FF How Cornflower Blue appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.