NATURAL DYES IN THE WILD

Non-Native & Invasive Dye Plants

• Eucalyptus (invasive)

  • Strong tannin

  • Dye with all parts of the tree (leaves, stems, bark)

  • All varieties have dye potential

• Eupatory aka sticky snakeroot (invasive)

  • Dye with leaves

  • Found widely in riparian areas

• Yellow oxalis aka sourgrass (invasive)

  • Dye with flowers

• Spanish broom (invasive)

  • Dye with stems & leaves

  • Found widely in coastal & mountainous areas

• Sheep sorrel

  • Dye with stalks & seedpods

• Pokeberry

  • Dye with berries

  • Requires acidic pH (semi-stable color)

• Stinging nettle

  • Dye with leaves (caution: collect with gloves - leaves have stingers)

  • Requires copper mordant or dye pot (semi-stable color)

• Curly dock

  • Dye with seeds and pods

Garden & Kitchen Dyes

Flowers:

• Hollyhock

• Coreopsis

• Zinnia

• Marigold

Herbs:

• Rosemary

• Fennel

From the kitchen:

• Carrot tops

• Yellow onion skins

• Pomegranate skins

• Avocado pits & skins

Native Dye Plants

• Oak

  • Strong tannin

  • Dye with all parts of the tree (leaves, stems, bark, acorns, galls)

• Prickly pear

  • Dye with fruit

  • Fermentation strengthens color (semi-stable color)

• Elderberry

  • Dye with fruit

  • Requires acidic pH (semi-stable color)

• Sagebrush

  • Dye with stems & leaves

• Wild tarragon

  • Dye with stems & leaves

• Black walnut

  • Strong tannin

  • Dye with nut shells (or whole nuts)

• Laurel sumac

  • Tannin

  • Dye with stems & leaves

• Toyon

  • Dye with stems & leaves

  • Fermentation strengthens color

• Coffeeberry

  • Dye with stems & leaves

• Sticky monkey flower

  • Dye with flowers

• California buckwheat

  • Dye with dried (red) flowers