div {
    font: 22px Arial;
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 1em 2em;
    text-align: center;
    color: white;
    background: red; /* default color */

    /* "to left" / "to right" - affects initial color */
    background: linear-gradient(to left, salmon 50%, lightblue 50%) right;
    background-size: 200%;
    transition: .5s ease-out;
}
div:hover {
    background-position: left;
}