Poppy
A saturated brick red with warm intensity
Poppy is a saturated brick red with strong warm undertones. It packs enough intensity to command attention, making it an ideal choice for high-impact accents or call-to-action buttons. Because it maintains a 5.2:1 contrast ratio against white, text remains readable at small sizes. The hex code for this bold red is #c23c47. Avoid using it as a primary background color, as it can quickly overwhelm a layout.
About Poppy
Brick warmed by a slow afternoon sun
What does poppy mean?
Commonly linked with warmth, celebration, and bold energy, and often tied to flowers, earth, and painted barns. Its strong saturation pushes forward with bold, lively energy, while the medium darkness keeps it mellow instead of glaring.
Where you see poppy
- poppy petals
- brick walls
- terracotta pots
- geraniums
- barn paint
- enamel mugs
What it works for
Works well for packaging, accents, and seasonal designs that want warmth and presence without sharp alarm-red urgency.
What colors go with poppy?
Sage Green #9caf88Cool sage tames the red's heat and echoes garden pairings.Cream #fffdd0Cream softens the saturation and gives the red room to breathe.Deep Teal #00555aTeal sits opposite red on the wheel, so both look stronger.Mustard #ffdb58Warm mustard shares this red's heat and shifts the mood rustic.
Questions about Poppy
What is the hex code for Poppy?
Poppy is #c23c47. In RGB that is rgb(194, 60, 71), in HSL hsl(355, 53%, 50%) and in CMYK 0%, 69%, 63%, 24%.
How should I use Poppy #c23c47 in my interface design?
Poppy #c23c47 works best as a deliberate accent rather than a background. Use it for call-to-action buttons or highlighted elements where you need high contrast, as it can easily overwhelm a layout if used across large surface areas.
Which neutral colors balance the intensity of #c23c47?
This brick red pairs effectively with neutral foundations to keep designs readable. Try using it alongside a soft off-white for text contrast, or balance its warmth by grounding it with a deep charcoal to prevent the red from vibrating against the background.
Is Poppy readable on white or black?
Poppy has a 5.20:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.03:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.