Goldenrod #DAA520

Goldenrod is named after the plant, a tall wildflower with plumes of yellow blossoms that bloom in late summer and fall. Kentucky and Nebraska both use goldenrod as their state flower. The plant often gets blamed for hay fever, though the usual culprit is ragweed, which blooms at the same time.

The color carries that seasonal feeling. It is warmer and more settled than lemon or canary yellow, and it fits naturally into harvest and back-to-school imagery. It has a confident, slightly old-fashioned character, closer to a vintage poster than a neon sign.

In the US, goldenrod is also a familiar shade of copy paper for forms and flyers. Overall people read it as warm, steady, and dependable, with a hint of gold's sense of value.

Goldenrod is a good brand color for food, farming, outdoor gear, and anything with a heritage feel. On websites it works as an accent, highlight, or button color, especially against navy, deep green, or charcoal. Black or dark brown text is readable on it; white is not. It's warm enough to make a layout feel friendly and muted enough not to compete with photos. In fashion it appears in fall knitwear and corduroy, and in interiors it brings warmth to rugs, cushions, and painted furniture.