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    List of Dye Yielding Plants for the Natural Dyer

    You are here: Home / Natural Dyeing / List of Dye Yielding Plants for the Natural Dyer

    This natural dyeing plant list is a compilation of plants and other organic materials that can be used for natural dyeing. Use this list as a guide to certain plants’ potential uses and outcomes. This compilation includes details on the following:

    • Latin names
    • Colors produced
    • Tutorial suggestions
    • Seed sources
    • And more

    Flowers, leaves, bark, roots, bugs, and kitchen scraps make beautiful colors

    List of dye-yielding plants. This refers to source dye materials, dye plant seeds, and discover possible dye materials to use.

    This is a continuously growing compilation of resources and potential dye plants.

    What are dye plants

    Natural dyeing is the art of taking organic materials, extracting color from those materials, and applying the color to fiber, yarn, or cloth. The color adheres to the fibers of the material you are dyeing and transforms it into a beautiful piece of art. 

    Natural dyes are somewhat unpredictable, and each one acts in unique ways. Some natural dyes are lightfast; they maintain their color even after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Some natural dyes are fugitive, meaning they will slowly fade over time.

    The joy of dyeing naturally comes in the experimentation, the unknowns, the crafting of a color. It is an art form that takes patience and diligence, but also a free spirit and sense of creativity and flexibility. 

    Plants are full of life and interest. Not only does a plant grow from a tiny little seed, but then it helps to clean our air, develop fruits, veggies, or other eatables. For the natural dyer, it also opens a world of possibilities for color. 

    Where to buy dye plants

    Some natural dyeing plants and products can be sourced from your kitchen cupboards, others found on the side of the road. Some are ordered as dried dye material from natural dyeing suppliers. And if you are ambitious and want to dive in, try planting some of your dye plants.

    I have compiled a list of my favorite resources for natural dyeing in Natural Dyeing Resources for the Modern Dyer. Check it out to find places to purchase your natural dyeing materials.

    Also included under some of the dye material profiles is a suggestion for where to source seeds for planting your dye plants, and where to find a powdered or dried version of challenging to find products.

    Veins in a leaf. Dye yielding plants list.
    Some links below are referral links, meaning, at no extra cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting Jaunty Everywhere in this way! See our full disclosure statement.

    How to dye using plants

    Under each dye material profile, I have tried to include at least one tutorial on how to dye using that material. Some dyes are less common, and tutorials were hard to find, others are common, and there were lots of tutorials to choose from. I have included a few that I find helpful and included enough information to get you started.

    Also, check out Natural Dyeing: How to Make Beautiful Natural Dyes, which is an overview of the natural dyeing process and the basic steps for creating your natural dyes.

    List of dye yielding plants explained

    Each item on this list includes the following information if I was able to source it.

    • Latin name of plant for easier identification
    • Potential color produced
    • Tutorial suggestions on how to dye with the plant
    • Source for raw dye stuff or powders
    • Source for seeds to grow the plant

    Use this information to pursue your naturally dyeing experiments. And check out Textile Indie’s other Natural Dyeing resources for more information.

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    Use the button below to download a printable list of dyeing materials.

    Printable Natural Dyeing Materials List

    List of dye yielding materials

    Natural dyeing materials from the kitchen


    Avocado pits

    Latin name: Persea americana

    Color produced: pinkish tan

    Tutorials:

    Rebecca Desnos – Avocado Dye : FAQs / Top tips for pink

    Live Free Creative Co. – How to Dye with Avocado Pits


    Avocado skins

    Latin name: Persea americana

    Color produced: pinkish tan

    Avocado pits and skin for dyeing.
    Avocado pits and skins.

    Beets

    Latin name: Beta vulgaris

    Color produced: Purplish brown

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Gage Hill Crafts – Dye Wool with Beets

    Viking Lady Aine – Beetroot…Not What You Might Expect


    Berries

    Color produced: range of pinks and purples (berries and not colorfast)

    Tutorials:

    Seamwork – Dyeing Fabric with Fruit


    Blackberries

    Latin name: Rubus fruticosus

    Color produced: purple

    Tutorials:

    Woodlark – DIY Natural Dyeing with Blackberries


    Black beans

    Latin name: Phaseolus vulgaris

    Color produced: purple

    Tutorials:

    Hooked and Dyed – Black Bean Dye

    A Polish Granddaughter – Natural Dyeing – In Search of Blue using Black Beans

    Solar dyeing with black beans:

    Knitbyahenshop – Natural dye tutorial: blue yarn from black beans!


    Black tea

    Latin name: Camellia sinensis

    Color produced: brown

    Tutorials:

    Textile Arts Center – Tutorial: Dying with Black Tea

    Rebecca Desnos – Painting with Milk and Dyeing with Tea

    Woodlark – DIY Natural Dyeing with Tea


    Coffee grounds

    Latin name: Coffea

    Color produced: brown

    Tutorials:

    The Spruce Crafts – How to Dye Clothes Tan or Brown with Coffee


    Carrot tops

    Latin name: Daucus carota subsp. sativus

    Color produced: light green

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company


    Citrus peels

    Latin name: Citrus

    Color produced: pale yellow


    Cherries

    Color produced: pink


    Chamomile tea

    Latin name: Matricaria chamomilla

    Common name: German Chamomile

    Color produced: pale yellow, light tan

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Apple Oak Fibre Works – Chamomile Dye


    Hibiscus tea

    Latin name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

    Color produced: light pinks and purples

    Tutorials:

    MaRI Collective – Natural Dyeing with Hibiscus Using Alum as Modifier


    Peach pits

    Latin name: Prunus persica

    Color produced: pale yellow and tans


    Pomegranate

    Latin name: Punica granatum

    Color produced: tan

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Pomegranate

    Folk Fibers – Natural Dyes: Pomegranates


    Red cabbage

    Latin name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra

    Color produced: purples, pinks and blues (red cabbage is not light and wash fast)

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Sew Historically – How to Dye Blue with Red Cabbage- Tutorial


    Red onion skins

    Latin name: Allium cepa

    Color produced: ranges from reddish tan, olive green when dipped in iron water

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Crafternoon Treats – Natural Dyeing with Onion Skins

    Little House on the Prairie – How to Create the Green Yarn from “Christmas at Plum Creek”

    Rebecca Desnos: Red Onion Skin Magic

    Red onions.
    Red onion skins dye a variety of colors depending on the process used.

    Rooibos tea

    Latin name: Aspalathus linearis

    Color produced: tan

    Tutorials:

    Natural Suburbia – Natural Wool Dyeing with Rooibos Tea


    Spinach

    Latin name: Spinacia oleracea

    Color produced: pale yellowy green

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Timber Creek Farm – Using Spinach Dye for Natural Wool Color


    Turmeric

    Latin name: Curcuma longa

    Color produced: bright yellow to orange

    Source: Amazon

    Tutorials:

    Kat Makes – Natural Dyeing Experiments: Turmeric Part 1

    Turmeric Australia – How to Make Turmeric Fabric Dye

    The PlantHunter – DIY: Dyeing with Turmeric


    Yellow onion skins

    Latin name: Allium cepa

    Color produced: deep yellow to tan

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Folk Fibers – Natural Dyes: Yellow Onion Skins

    It’s a Stitch Up – Natural Dyeing with Onion Skins

    Yellow onions and onion skins used for natural dyeing
    Yellow onion skins.

    Natural dyeing materials from the garden


    Calendula

    Latin name: Calendula officinalis

    Color produced: yellow

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Wingham Wool Work – Dye Calendula

    Kimberly Baxter Packwood – Notes on Natural Dyeing. Notes on how to dye with calendula at the end of the post.

    Calendula flowers.
    Calendula flowers.

    Daffodils

    Latin name: Narcissus

    Source for bulbs: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Wool Tribulations of Hand Spinning and Herbal Dyeing – A Trial of Daffodil Petal Dye


    Dahlia

    Latin name: Dahlia

    Color produced: tan

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Maker Gardener – Fabric Dyeing Using Dahlia and Alum Mordant


    Dandelion

    Latin name: Taraxacum

    Color produced: yellow to tan

    Tutorials:

    House Sparrow Fine Nesting – How to Dye with Dandelions | Natural Dye, Plant Dye, Bundle Dyeing, Eco Printing


    Elderberries

    Latin name: Sambucus nigra

    Color produced: brownish purple

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    That Crafty Bitch: Plant Dyes Elderberry


    Eucalyptus leaves

    Latin name: Eucalyptus

    Color produced: range of colors depending on process

    Tutorials:

    Sally Blake – Eucalyptus dye database

    Rebecca Desnos – Triple bundle dyeing with eucalyptus leaves


    Fennel leaves

    Latin name: Foeniculum vulgare

    Color produced: yellow

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    The Practical Herbalist – DIY Herbal Dyes: Fennel on Animal Fiber


    Hibiscus flower

    Latin name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

    Color produced: pale purples and pinks


    Ivy

    Latin name: Hedera helix

    Tutorials:

    Wool Tribulations of Hand Spinning and Herbal Dyeing – A Trial of Ivy Leaf Dye


    Lavender

    Latin name: Lavandula angustifolia

    Color produced: silver gray

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Lavender flowers.
    It is possible to dye a silvery gray with lavender.

    Mint

    Latin name: Mentha

    Color produced: pale yellow

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    House Sparrow Fine Nesting – How to Dye with Mint | How to Make Green Gray Natural Dye, DIY Plant Dye Silver, Bundle Dyeing, Eco Printing, Experimenting with Natural Dye


    Rosemary

    Latin name: Salvia rosmarinus

    Color produced: gray to light brown

    Source for seeds or plants: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Cozy Homemaking – Rosmarinus Officinalis


    Thyme

    Latin name: Thymus vulgaris

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company


    Yellow cosmos

    Latin name: Cosmos sulphureus

    Color produced: yellow

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Colour Cottage – Orange Cosmos Dye


    Dyers garden


    Black-eyed susan

    Latin name: Rudbeckia hirta

    Color produced: yellow

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Gage Hill Crafts – How to Dye Yarn with Black-Eyed Susan


    Black Magic Bachelor’s Button

    Latin name: Centaurea cyanus

    Source for seeds: Grand Prismatic Seeds


    Comfrey

    Latin name: Symphytum officinale

    Tutorials:

    Wool Tribulations of Hand Spinning and Herbal Dyeing – A Trial of Comfrey Plant Dye on Wool with Alum, Iron and Copper Mordants


    Dyer’s Chamomile

    Latin name: Cota tinctoria

    Source for seeds: Grand Prismatic Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Apple Oak Fibre Works – Chamomile Dye


    Dyer’s Coreopsis

    Latin name: Coreopsis tinctoria

    Color produced: yellow to beige

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Dyers Coreopsis

    Woollenflower – Dyeing with Dyer’s Coreopsis

    All Natural Dyeing – Coreopsis Dye


    Fustic

    Latin name: Maclura tinctoria

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Fustic

    A Polish Granddaughter – Natural Dyeing – Fustic and some extras


    Goldenrod

    Latin name: Solidago

    Color produced: yellow

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Goldenrod

    Salt in My Coffee – Dyeing with Goldenrod


    Gorse

    Latin name: Ulex


    Gypsywort

    Latin name: Lycopus europaeus

    Source for seeds: Grand Prismatic Seed


    Hollyhock

    Latin name: Alcea rosea ‘Nigra

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Gage Hill Crafts – Dyeing Wool with Black Hollyhocks: Blue Made Easy

    Verdant Textiles – Dyeing with Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) Petals


    Hopi Sunflower

    Latin name: Helianthus annuus

    Source for seeds: Grand Prismatic Seed

    Tutorial:

    Native Seeds – Hopi Black Dye Sunflower


    Iron weed

    Latin name: Vernonia


    Japanese Indigo leaves

    Latin name: Persicaria tinctoria

    Color produced: blue to teal

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Rebecca Desnos – Fresh leaf indigo dyeing – the salt rub method

    Madderlane – Fresh Leaf Indigo Dyeing – Salt Method


    Lady’s bedstraw

    Latin name: Galium verum


    Madder

    Latin name: Rubia tinctorum

    Color produced: deep red to pinks

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Botanical Colors – Madder Root Instructions


    Marigold

    Latin name: Tagetes

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Source for raw materials: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Garden Therapy – Natural Flower Dye for Fabric: How to Create a Marigold-Dyed Scarf


    Pincushion Flower

    Latin name: Scabiosa atropurpurea

    Alternate name: Black Night Scabiosa

    Source for seeds: Grand Prismatic Seed

    Tutorials:

    The Dogwood Dyer: Natural Dye Plants. Find a short description of how to grow and the dyeing process at the end of the post.


    Rhubarb

    Latin name: Rheum rhabarbarum

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Rhubarb

    Donna Kallner Fiber Art – Natural Dyes: Rhubarb Leaves and Bark Extracts


    Safflower

    Latin name: Carthamus tinctorius

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Source for raw materials: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Safflower


    St. John’s Wort

    Latin name: Hypericum perforatum

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds


    Sunflower

    Latin name: Helianthus annuus

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company


    Tansy

    Latin name: Tanacetum vulgare

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Gage Hill Craft – Dye wool with Tansy Using These Easy Steps


    Weld

    Latin name: Reseda luteola

    Color produced: yellow

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Local Color Dyes – Growing Weld

    Wool Tribulations of Hand Spinning and Herbal Dyeing – Making Weld Dye from the Plant to the Wool


    Woad

    Latin name: Isatis tinctoria

    Color produced: blue

    Tutorials:

    All Natural Dyeing – Woad Dye: Isatia Tinctoria

    Local Color Dye – Dyeing with Woad

    Wearing Woad – Dyeing with Woad: 5 Tips for Maximum Dye Yield


    Yarrow

    Latin name: Achillea millefolium

    Source for seeds: Territorial Seed Company

    Tutorials:

    Local Color Dyes – Yarrow (Achillea)


    Natural dyeing materials gathered


    Acorns

    Latin name: Quercus

    Color produced: tan to dark brown when dipped in iron water

    Tutorials:

    Acre – Acorn Dye

    Thicket – DIY Natural Acorn Dye

    Spindles in the Wild – Natural Dyeing with Acorns

    Acorns and leaves
    Acorns.

    Alder cones

    Latin name: Alnus

    Color produced: brown

    Tutorials:

    Rebecca Desnos – Dyeing with Alder Cones


    Birch bark

    Latin name: Betula

    Color produced: brown


    Blackberries

    Latin name: Rubus fruticosus

    Color produced: purples

    Tutorials:

    Lynda Heines Fabric Desing – Dyeing with Blackberries

    Hooked and Dyed: Dyeing with Blackberries


    Blackthorn

    Latin name: Prunus spinosa


    Bracken

    Latin name: Pteridium aquilinum

    Color produced: pale yellows to pale greens

    Tutorials:

    Jenny Dean’s Wild Colour – Dyeing with Bracken

    Dances with Wools – Natural Dyeing: Bracken Fern


    Copper beech

    Latin name: Fagus sylvatica


    Elderberries

    Latin name: Sambucus

    Color produced: brownish purple

    Tutorials:

    The Bohemian Wife – Dyeing Wool with Elderberry


    Garden sorrel

    Latin name: Rumex acetosa


    Hawthorne

    Latin name: Crataegus

    Tutorials:

    Wool Tribulations of Hand Spinning and Herbal Dyeing – Dyeing Wool with Hawthorn Flowers and Leaves


    Heather

    Latin name: Calluna vulgaris

    Tutorials:

    The Easy Blues – Natural Dyeing: Heather


    Horse chestnut husks

    Latin name: Aesculus hippocastanum

    Color produced: brownish purple, grey or light tan depending on mordants

    Tutorials:

    February Twelve – Natural Dyeing: Horse Chestnut Husks

    Horse chestnuts.
    Horse chestnuts, the husks are great for making natural dye and the chestnuts can be processed into laundry detergent.
    Mountain ash

    Latin name: Sorbus


    Nettles

    Latin name: Urtica dioica

    Color produced: gray green

    Source for seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

    Tutorials:

    Rebecca Desnos – Dyeing with Nettles


    Oak galls

    Latin name:


    Rose hips

    Latin name: Rosa canina

    Tutorials:

    Kimberly Baxter Packwood – Notes on Natural Dyeing


    Walnuts

    Latin name: Juglans

    Color produced: brown

    Tutorials:

    Natural Dye: Experiments and Results – Black Walnut Season

    Botanical Colors – Walnut Powder Instructions

    Flora and Fiber – Let’s Dye… Black Walnut

    Walnuts
    Walnuts.

    Willow

    Latin name: Salix


    Natural dyeing materials: powders and extracts


    Alkanet

    Latin name: Alkanna tinctoria

    Color produced: blackish purple

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Alkanet

    Jenny Dean’s Wild Colour – Alkanet Root


    Buckthorn

    Latin name: Rhamnus

    Tutorials:

    Spin Off – Dyeing with Buckthorn


    Cochineal

    Latin name: Dactylopius coccus

    Color produced: brilliant pink to light pinks

    Source for raw material: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Botanical Colors – Cochineal Insect Instructions

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Cochineal


    Cutch

    Latin name: Senegalia catechu

    Tutorials:

    The Maiwa Blog – Natural Dyes: Cutch

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Cutch


    Henna

    Latin name: Lawsonia inermis


    Indigo

    Latin name: Persicaria tinctoria

    Color produced: range of blues

    Tutorials:

    Dear Handmade Life – DIY Indigo Dyeing: The Straightforward Guide to Supplies, Measurements, and Instructions

    Graham Keegan – More than All You Need to Know to Make Your Own Indigo Dye Vat

    Wild Colours – Indigo the Blue Dye


    Logwood

    Latin name: Haematoxylum campechianum

    Color produced: dark purple to gray

    Source for raw materials: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Botanical Colors – Logwood Chip Instructions

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Logwood


    Madder

    Latin name: Rubia tinctorum

    Color produced: red to shades of pink

    Source for raw materials: Botanical Colors

    Source for seeds: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Botanical Colors – Madder Root Instructions

    Wild Colours – Dyeing with Madder Root

    Gage Hill Crafts – Dye Wool With Madder

    Jenny Dean’s Wild Colour – Dyeing with Madder


    Osage orange

    Latin name: Maclura pomifera

    Color produced: yellow to orange

    Source for raw materials: Botanical Colors

    Tutorials:

    Folk Fibers – Natural Dyes: Osage Orange

    Fiber Farm – Natural Dye Recipe: Osage Orange


    Quebracho

    Latin name: Schinopsis balansae

    Tutorials:

    Wild Colours – Quebracho Extract


    Printable Natural Dyeing Materials List

    Natural dye materials by color produced

    Blue dyes

    • Black beans
    • Japanese indigo
    • Woad

    Green dyes

    • Bracken
    • Nettles
    • Red onion skins with iron

    Red dyes

    • Madder root

    Pink and peach dyes

    • Avocado pits and skins
    • Beets
    • Berries
    • Cherries
    • Hibiscus tea
    • Red cabbage
    • Madder root (diluted)

    Yellow dyes

    • Carrot tops
    • Citrus peel
    • Chamomile tea
    • Dandelion
    • Dyer’s chamomile
    • Dyer’s coreopsis
    • Goldenrod
    • Osage orange
    • Spinach
    • Turmeric
    • Weld
    • Yellow cosmos

    Orange dyes

    • Red onion
    • Osage orange
    • Yellow onion

    Purple dyes

    • Blackberries
    • Elderberries
    • Logwood
    • Red cabbage

    Brown and tan dyes

    • Acorns
    • Alder cones
    • Birch bark
    • Coffee grounds
    • Daffodils
    • Dahlia
    • Pomegranate rind
    • Red onion skins
    • Rooibos tea
    • Walnuts
    Acorn close up.
    Acorns.

    Black and gray dyes

    • Acorns with iron
    • Black tea
    • Lavender
    • Mint
    • Nettles
    • Rosemary
    • Thyme
    • Walnuts with iron

    This is a continuously growing compilation of resources and potential dye plants.

    For more natural dyeing resources see…

    Natural Dyeing Resources for the Natural Dyer.

    Natural Dyeing Glossary: Terminology for Natural Dyers

    Do you have a favorite tutorial you use or a plant you like to dye with? Leave me a comment below; I’d love to hear about it.

    More on natural dyeing

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