Heian era · serene · cool · playful

Valerian Yellow & Pale Blue 女郎花と浅葱

The yellow of autumn valerian against late-summer sky.

女郎花

Ominaeshi

#DCCB6E

Valerian yellow

浅葱

Asagi

#88B9C4

Pale blue-green

生成

Kinari

#F8F4E9

Natural

About this combination

Ominaeshi — one of the seven autumn plants — has tiny pale-yellow flowers that cluster in late summer fields. Paired with asagi, the pale blue-green of lingering summer sky, it reads as the exact turning of a season.

Where it works

  • Late-summer campaigns
  • Botanical publishing
  • Soft editorial with seasonal tone

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.

From the archive

The Complete Wada Bundle All 348 historical combinations, five formats, one download.

See what's inside

Launching soon. The free archive stays free, always.