We sell seeds of the following varieties of plants used for natural dyeing of yarn and fabric. Find these seeds in our catalogues. For help and guidance you may wish to contact your local Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.
Parts used Colours obtained
CALENDULA flowers pale yellows to
Calendula officinalis greeny beige
COMFREY leaves olive green to deep
Symphytum species rich brown
COREOPSIS plant tops greeny yellow to olive
Coreopsis tinctoria green to rich brown
flowers pale orange, deep orange,
rich brown
DYER’S CHAMOMILE flowers yellow to deep olive green
Cota tinctoria leaves, stalks lime green to tan
ECHINACEA flowers brownish green
Echinacea purpurea leaves, stems gold
FENNEL Bronze plant tops pale yellows to
Foeniculum vulgare forest green
‘Purpureum’
FEVERFEW fresh leaves greenish yellow, pale
Tanacetum parthenium and stems yellow
FRENCH MARIGOLD plant tops mid yellow to rich brown
Tagetes patula flowers deep yellow to mid brown
GREAT MULLEIN leaves and vibrant yellow to green
Verbascum thapsus flowers
LAVENDER English leaves grey
Lavandula angustifolia
MADDER roots orange, orange-pink to
Rubia tinctoria cerise
(bare roots available, not seed. Contact us.)
PARSLEY leaves lemon yellow to
Petroselinum crispum warm yellow
ST. JOHN’S WORT plant tops yellow ochre to rich brown
Hypericum perforatum flowers green, maroon, mid yellow
SORREL leaves greeny yellow to olive
Rumex acetosa roots rust to brown
TANSY plant tops lime green, yellow to
Tanacetum vulgare greeny brown
flowers lemon yellow to pale
olive green
WELD plant tops lemon yellow to tan
Reseda luteola
YARROW leaves and yellow, golden brown
Achillea millefolium flowers
Dye herbs displayed on our plant stand at Hampton Court Flower Show with the dyed yarns beside them.
Skeins of yarn dyed using the plants on the chart behind.