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Hooker's Green
#49796B · click to copy
Cool
HEX
#49796B
RGB
73, 121, 107
CMYK
40%, 0%, 12%, 53%
Pigment
PG8, PY150
Lightfastness
Good (II) — historical formulas were fugitive; modern versions better
Moods & Keywords
green
dark
muted
natural
botanical
victorian
natural
botanical
cool
green
Pigment & Material
PG8, PY150
Synthetic
Originally a mixture of Prussian blue and gamboge yellow. Modern versions use phthalo green and yellow pigments.
Origin & History
Developed specifically for botanical illustration in the early 19th century. William Hooker (later Sir William Jackson Hooker, first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) needed a green that accurately represented the varied greens of living plants. The mixture of Prussian blue with gamboge produced a natural, warm green unlike the cool, artificial-looking greens previously available.
Also Known As
Hooker's Green Light
Hooker's Green Dark
Botanical Green
Psychology
Natural, observational, and precise. Hooker's green is the scientist-artist's green — it was literally developed to accurately represent nature rather than to express emotion. It carries associations with careful observation, botanical knowledge, and the 19th century tradition of scientific illustration that combined art and science.
In Culture
Botanical illustration — the tradition of accurately depicting plants for scientific identification — reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries with artists like Redouté and Ehret. Hooker's green became the standard foliage colour in this tradition. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew still maintain extensive archives of botanical illustrations, many using this colour.
Natural Sources
Named after British botanist William Hooker (1785–1865), the colour was specifically developed for botanical illustration — a warm, natural green that accurately represented foliage. Historically mixed from Prussian blue and gamboge (or Indian yellow) — both somewhat fugitive.
Making It Yourself
Traditional method: mix Prussian blue with gamboge (or Indian yellow) — produces authentic Hooker's green but with some fugitivity.
Modern lightfast version: mix phthalo green (PG7) with yellow ochre (PY43) and a touch of burnt sienna — produces a similar natural, warm green.
For botanical illustration: the traditional Prussian blue + gamboge mixture still gives the most accurate botanical green tone.
Modern lightfast version: mix phthalo green (PG7) with yellow ochre (PY43) and a touch of burnt sienna — produces a similar natural, warm green.
For botanical illustration: the traditional Prussian blue + gamboge mixture still gives the most accurate botanical green tone.
Art Movements
Botanical Illustration
Victorian Watercolour
Naturalist Art
Famous Works
Kew Gardens botanical illustrations
19th century
Pierre-Joseph Redouté
botanical watercolours
John James Audubon
bird paintings (foliage)
Available As
Winsor & Newton — Hooker's Green (PG8 + PY150)
Daniel Smith — Hooker's Green (mixed)
M. Graham — Hooker's Green
Sennelier — Hooker's Green
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Colour data compiled with AI. Spot an error or have more to add? Leave a Note — ekphra reviews and updates.
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