In Western cultures, periwinkle symbolizes peace and calmness, often associated with relaxation and creativity. However, in some Asian traditions, the color can represent spiritual awakening and enlightenment, showcasing its multifaceted significance.
The term 'periwinkle' is derived from the Latin word 'pervinca', which referred to the plant known for its blue-violet flowers. The color gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in fashion and interior design, with notable use in the 1950s by artists embracing pastel tones.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Periwinkle. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 45 Blues →Nine steps of Periwinkle by lightness — from #6A6A85 (darkest) to #E4E4FF (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Periwinkle at 60° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Periwinkle.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Periwinkle 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: #CCCCFF; color-mix(in srgb, #CCCCFF 70%, white) 240°, 20%, 100% 20, 20, 0, 0 13421823 #CCCCFF How Periwinkle appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.