Fedco Seeds: Dye Plants

Susanne Grosjean, of the Wednesday Spinners group in Downeast Maine, says, “You need only three dye plants: indigo for blue, madder for red and weld for yellow. Three primary colors, all excellent color-fast dye plants.”

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Dyer’s Coreopsis

Flower Seeds

Coreopsis tinctoria Open-pollinated. Beautiful native ornamental. Provides a full palette of color from yellows and greens to rusts and browns-and even black. read more

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Sparky Mix

French Marigold Seeds

Tagetes patula Open-pollinated. Mix of yellow, gold, orange and red. Double flowers are 2-2½" wide. Compact 10-12" plants. read more

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Indigo

Flower Seeds

Persicaria tinctoria Open-pollinated. Japanese indigo preferred by dyers in Maine. A tender annual, indigo thrives in fertile soil and likes heat and humidity. read more

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Madder -

Flower Seeds

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Rubia tinctorum Open-pollinated. Ancient and excellent source of red dye. Harvest roots after three years and grind to yield a wash- and light-fast red dye par excellence. 4' plants. read more

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Soapwort

Flower Seeds

Saponaria officinalis Open-pollinated. Not a dye plant; saponin-rich roots and leaves used to gently wash wool. Sweetly clove-scented pink perennial attracts pollinators. 3' plant. read more

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Lady’s Mantle

Seeds

Alchemilla mollis Open-pollinated. Perennial. 12-18" Bears large loose sprays of tiny greenish-yellow flowers from early summer onward. Makes a good border and ground cover in shady locations. read more

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Hopi Black Dye Sunflower -

Flower Seeds

Helianthus annuus (90-100 days) Open-pollinated. Rare indigenous heirloom used as a natural dye source for coloring baskets purplish charcoal. Also edible. 8' stalks. read more