Moss Green

HEX: #8A9A5B | Modern Palette

On White
3.06:1
FAIL
On Black
6.85:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#8A9A5B
RGB
138, 154, 91
HSL
75°, 40% ,60%
CMYK
10.39, 0, 40.91, 39.61

About Moss Green

Moss Green (#8A9A5B) is a color with RGB(138, 154, 91) and HSL(75.24°, 40.91%, 60.39%). It is commonly associated with Earthy moods. In design, it is suitable for Text, Logo, Print. Its complementary color is #6B5B9A, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #5B8A9A and #9A5B8A. The name comes from Moss Green (English).

  • HEX: #8A9A5B
  • RGB: 138, 154, 91
  • HSL: 75.24°, 40.91%, 60.39%
  • Mood: Earthy
  • Use case: Text, Logo, Print
  • Complementary color: #6B5B9A
  • Triadic colors: #5B8A9A, #9A5B8A
  • The name comes from Moss Green (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Moss Green #8A9A5B 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.
 
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
 
 
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

Moss Green #8A9A5B pairs with #6B5B9A as its complementary color, and #5B8A9A and #9A5B8A 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.

MOSS GREEN
Analogous

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

MOSS GREEN
Triadic

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

MOSS GREEN
Split-Complementary

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

MOSS GREEN
Tetradic (Square)

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

MOSS GREEN
Monochromatic

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

MOSS GREEN

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Moss Green #8A9A5B moves from dark #0E1009 tones through the base color to lighter #F4F6EF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

MOSS GREEN

Color Characteristics

Mood
Earthy
Style
Use case
Text Logo Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #96965C
Protanopia #98985B
Tritanopia #919494
Achromatopsia #939393

Frequently Asked Questions

Moss Green (#8A9A5B) is a color with RGB(138, 154, 91) and HSL(75.24°, 40.91%, 60.39%).

#8A9A5B pairs strongly with #6B5B9A as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#8A9A5B is suitable for Text, Logo, Print.

#8A9A5B is commonly associated with Earthy.

The name Moss Green is linked to Moss Green from English, meaning A color resembling the typical green hue of moss..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Moss Green
Meaning A color resembling the typical green hue of moss.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 18th - Early 19th Century

History

The concept of 'green' has existed since ancient times, but specific shades like 'moss green' are more recent developments in color nomenclature. As dyes became more sophisticated and the ability to reproduce specific shades improved, there did a need for more precise descriptive terms. 'Moss Green' likely emerged as a way to differentiate a particular muted, earthy, and often yellowish-green from brighter or bluer greens. It gained popularity in fashion, interior design, and art, particularly during periods that favored naturalistic palettes, such as the Arts and Crafts movement and later in mid-century modern design. Its association with nature has given it a timeless appeal.

First Recorded Use

The exact first recorded use of 'Moss Green' as a specific color name is difficult to pinpoint to a single date or document. However, descriptive color names based on natural objects became more common in English during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, coinciding with increased interest in botany and natural history. Early fashion and textile descriptions from this period show an emergence of such specific nature-based greens.

Cultural Associations

Moss Green is widely associated with nature, tranquility, and organic aesthetics. It often evokes feelings of peace, growth, and earthiness. In fashion, it's considered a versatile and sophisticated neutral, often used in autumn and winter collections. In interior design, it brings a sense of calm and connection to the outdoors. It's also frequently seen in military uniforms (due to its camouflage properties), outdoor gear, and traditional British and Irish textiles. Its muted quality makes it less aggressive than brighter greens, lending it an air of understated elegance.

Similar Named Colors

Asparagus #87A96B ΔE 5.83
Artichoke #8F9779 ΔE 8.41
Olivine #9AB973 ΔE 9.11
Olive Drab #6B8E23 ΔE 9.24

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #8A9A5B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #8A9A5B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #8A9A5B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #8A9A5B,
        #8671C3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #8A9A5B,
        #8671C3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$moss-green: #8A9A5B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$moss-green-r: 138;
$moss-green-g: 154;
$moss-green-b: 91;

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