Dye Seeds
THE NATURAL DYE GARDEN
Natural dyes are both beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
A natural dye garden will give you eco-friendly, natural dye pigments for textiles and yarns,
Natural dyes have a unique character – they shimmer beautifully in sunlight and never clash.
Growing plants for dyeing is an ancient craft but it is making a comeback. As interest in eco-friendly products and methods grow – it is no surprise that many creative people are planting their own natural dye gardens today.
If you are considering creating a dye garden aim by initially growing the three primary colours – blue, red and yellow – from these the full rainbow of beautiful colours will be available to you.
Below are a selection of seeds/plants I grow which provide me with immeasurable pleasure – and I hope will inspire you!
18 varieties to choose from. Attractively packaged – making a special gift for the natural dyer.
ALKANET
Anchusa officinalis – ‘Alkanet’ or ‘Bugloss’ The bark of the roots yields a weak brownish-red or lilac dye. It is not as
CALENDULA OFFICINALIS
Calendula officinalis Also called pot marigold is often confused with members of the genus Tagetes which go by the same common name
DYER’S CHAMOMILE
Anthemis tinctoria Dyer’s Chamomile has been used for dyeing fibre for thousands of years. It provides the yellow and buff in Turkish carpets.
DYER’S GREENWEED
Genista tinctoria Genista tinctoria is a deciduous shrub growing to 2ft x 3ft. A member of the pea family. Flowers appear from
FRENCH MARIGOLD
GOLDENROD – SOLIDAGO
Goldenrod – Solidago Yellow flowers held above leafy stems. Yields a lovely bright and wash-fast yellow and a gorgeous green when overdyed with
HOPI BLACK DYE SUNFLOWER
Helianthus annuus The seed hulls can be used to produce colourfast purple and grey colours on fibre and baskets. Native Americans –
Hollyhock
DESCRIPTION Alcaea Rosea SOWING INDOORS Sow hollyhock seeds indoors from April-May, 1/2 inch deep in a tray of compost. Water well and
INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA
INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA – also known as true indigo. One of the oldest plants in cultivation. Indigofera has been used for thousands of
Japanese Indigo
Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) Growing Instructions Japanese Indigo is an annual plant yielding pure blue. Sow seeds indoors in March/April. Sow thinly
Mullein
DESCRIPTION Verbascum Thapsus Aaron’s rod Mullein can be sown indoors or Direct. SOWING DIRECT Sow a small pinch of seeds about 18
Yarrow
DESCRIPTION Achillea millefolium SOWING DIRECT Yarrow germinates easily and can be sown at any time of the year when conditions are suitable
MADDER SEEDS
Rubia Tinctorum- also called Turkey Red The roots of this ancient plant are rich in red alizarin and are the source of a
SAFFLOWER
Carthamus tinctorious – False saffron Safflower is an ancient prickly flowering plant that contains a water-soluble yellow dye and an alkaline soluble
SOAPWORT SEEDS
Saponaria officinallis Soapwort is a pretty little wild flower of the carnation family, native to Europe. Soapwort contains saponins which in conjunction