Natural Dye Plant Encyclopedia

Full sun and frequent harvest in peak heat.

Recipe: Vat fermentation with careful aeration and soda ash.

Soil: Loamy, organic-rich, Sunlight: Full to part sun

Bloom months: June, July, August

Color swatches:

Sow in fall and let roots mature.

Recipe: Root dye boiled and fixed with alum for protein fibers.

Soil: Slightly acidic loam, Sunlight: Full sun

Bloom months: May, June

Color swatches:

Succession-sow every 2 weeks in spring.

Recipe: Boil petals and mordant for bright yellows.

Soil: Moderately moist beds, Sunlight: Full sun

Bloom months: May, June, July, August, September

Color swatches:

Pinch stems for denser blooms.

Recipe: Steep cut stems to extract a golden wash.

Soil: Well-drained loam, Sunlight: Full sun

Bloom months: June, July, August

Color swatches:

Use dried skins for deep golds and ambers.

Recipe: Steep skins after vinegar bath rinse.

Soil: Balanced garden loam, Sunlight: Any sun

Bloom months: August, September

Color swatches:

Harvest outer husks with care; dry and store in glass jars.

Recipe: Use husk extract for deep browns.

Soil: Well-drained clay-loam, Sunlight: Full sun

Bloom months: May, June, July

Color swatches:

Use responsibly and keep precise soaking timing.

Recipe: Wood chip decoction with controlled oxidation.

Soil: Rich moisture-retentive soil, Sunlight: Partial sun

Bloom months: N/A

Color swatches:

Forage responsibly; avoid roadside contamination.

Recipe: Use root for muted yellows and tans.

Soil: Lean soil with moisture, Sunlight: Full to part sun

Bloom months: March, April, May

Color swatches: