Hemlock Green
50GG 09/118 · #3E5B56 · LRV 9 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Dark Night4
- 2Hemlock Green9
- 3Hidden Gem14
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Hemlock Green, Really?
Hemlock Green reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Glidden 50GG 09/118 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Hemlock Green
Hemlock Green earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Hemlock Green
At LRV 9, Hemlock Green is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Hemlock Green are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Glidden 50GG 09/118 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Billiard GreenSW 16 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.2 | 9 | Color page → |
| Behr | Patio GreenPPF-02 · Behr | 2.5 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Garden Cucumber644 · Benjamin Moore | 2.0 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Canadian Fir5004-4C · Valspar | 2.2 | 9.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Sea GlassPPG13-30 · PPG / Glidden | 1.3 | 9 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Loch NessDE5748 · Dunn-Edwards | 2.9 | 9 | Color page → |
Similar Glidden Colors
The nearest shades to Hemlock Green within Glidden's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #3E5B56 in HSL space. Pair Hemlock Green with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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