Inspiration in the color forest green.

The history of the color forest green.

The first recorded use of forest green color dates back to 1810.

The color forest green was first recorded in 1810. Forest green is the embodiment of how the brain averages all the greens in forest flora. Forest green color in English corresponds to which trees and plants are most common in English-speaking regions, primarily temperate zones with deciduous forests. This means that forest green is duskier than what a “jungle green” might be elsewhere in the world.

Forest green in the 20th century.

Forest green was used to represent a connection with nature in many examples through the 1900s. On maps, the color to depict deciduous forests was assigned as forest green. The Boy Scouts of America adopted forest green in the first part of the century. The color forest green became a more frequent color in woodland camouflage, too. Soldiers even began to spray their weapons with a forest green color pigment for added concealment.

The color forest green post-pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising interest in nature has taken hold around the globe. The world was limited for months (or years) to outdoor-only gatherings, and many governments had quarantines that didn’t even allow that. The desire to be outdoors grew for the first time in years as an abrupt counterbalance to the age of “socializing” from screens. The color forest green has been a color seen in more messaging ever since.

The color forest green across different cultures.

Forest green color doesn’t always represent nature.

In some Eastern cultures, the color forest green is a symbol of infidelity. In Indonesia, for example, rich greens (including forest green) have even been forbidden because they represent adultery and exorcism. Curiously, in the Indonesian language, there’s also a popular idiom “to take someone to the green table” (memejahijaukan) meaning “to take them to court.”

Forest green color in the flag of Mexico.

The color forest green is an important color in the Mexican flag. White represents purity, red stands for the blood of patriots, and forest green symbolizes independence. In some South American cultures where forest green is profuse in the Amazon, the color forest green can represent both life and death.

Forest green as a color of awareness.

Starting in the 1960s, the color forest green became a symbol of the environmentalism movement. Forest green is a symbol of today’s Green movement across many countries. All environmental literature and messaging favors the use of forest green, too. The color forest green also hits home with today’s consumers. Brand studies have found that 88% of consumers want to buy ethically, and forest green identifies what’s healthy or sustainable — and what’s not.