April's full moon — named not for its colour but for the pink wild phlox of early spring. Why it isn't actually pink, and how to see it.
Short answer
The Pink Moon is April's full moon. Despite the name it does not turn pink — it's named for moss pink (wild ground phlox), one of the first spring flowers to bloom across eastern North America. It's also called the Sprouting Grass, Egg and Fish Moon.
When is the Pink Moon?
April's full moon — the date shifts a little each year.See 2026 calendar
Why "Pink"?
The name comes from the wild ground phlox — moss pink — that carpets the ground in pink across eastern North America in early spring. So the Pink Moon marks a flower, not a colour. Other seasonal names include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and, among coastal tribes, the Fish Moon.
What it looks like
The April full moon is a spring moon, riding at a medium height — lower than the winter moons but higher than summer's. It often appears warm and bright, but no warmer-coloured than usual; the 'pink' is purely a naming tradition, not an optical effect.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Pink Moon actually look pink?
No. It is named for pink spring wildflowers (moss phlox), not its colour. The Moon looks its usual silver-white or, near the horizon, the usual gold.
Why does the Pink Moon set the date of Easter some years?
Because Easter follows the first full moon after the spring equinox; in years when the March moon falls before the equinox, April's Pink Moon becomes the Paschal moon.