ORGANIC WOAD SEEDS ~ Grown by the Irish Organic Seedsavers Association

Growing dye plants gives you a feeling of connection to nature, that is unique and I am delighted that you are thinking of taking that step. There can never be enough growers on our Earth and I do believe that growing your own colour adds yet another dimension to gardening and the plant world as a whole. If you can keep it organic, do, the colours are richer and the flora and fauna will thank you for it, as do we. Enjoy!

 Woad has been used for centuries to obtain a blue dye. An attractive plant with 1m high stems, long succulent leaves, which shine like stained glass, with inner blue; foamy clusters and brilliant yellow flowers.

Woad is a biannual plant and the leaves are used for dyeing in the first year. Once the flowers have formed in the second year, the leaves only obtain very little dye and the second year is used for seed collection.

Sow: In Spring, February to March

Harvest: Leaves first year July-September

There is a Woad Group on Facebook if you like to have support, how to and share your experiences, feel free to join :) The Woad Project | Facebook

Check out our blog too, there will be some instructions coming soon.

So, what do you get in a pack of Woad Seeds?

Over 100 seeds in a package

Grown to organic Standards in Ireland for conservation purposes

Grown in Scarriff, Co. Clare, Ireland - fully traceable

Open pollinated

An abundant display of showy bi coloured yellow and red blooms. They illuminate the garden from summer right through autumn. Common in the southern plains of America. 

Dye colour: bronze orange to yellow. 

Sow in pots or trays under cover from late winter to spring.

Harvest: cut flowers or the whole plant to dye. 

Can be used fresh or dry.

200 seeds per packet.

Open-Pollinated seed organically grown in Ireland for conservation purposes. 

Certified organic IE-ORG-02

Cota Tinctora ~ In horticulture this plant is still widely referred to by its synonym Anthemis tinctoria.

An extremely productive perennial plant. Beautiful yellow daisy-like flowers on long stems. Low maintenance and lovely for borders or drifts in cottage gardens. 

Dye colour: Yellow and green (with iron)

Can be used fresh or dried.

Good colour fastness.

Sow: Thinly in seed trays from early April

Cut as required 

Average seeds per package: 100

Certified Organic IE-ORG-02

An abundant display of showy orange and yellow blooms. They illuminate the garden from summer right through autumn. Calendula officinalis, simple single flower, is similar to coreopsis in dye behaviour. It is great for eco and floral printing and gives some lovely colour on any yarn. Fastness - low to medium depending on mordant.

Dye colour: yellow, orange to green depending on mordant.

Sow in pots or trays under cover from late winter to spring.

Harvest: cut flowers or the whole plant to dye. 

Can be used fresh or dry.

100 seeds per packet.

Open-Pollinated seed organically grown in Ireland for conservation purposes. 

Certified organic IE-ORG-02

WOAD TEWKESBURY ~ grown to organic standards by us (not yet organically certified)

Growing dye plants gives you a feeling of connection to nature, that is unique and I am delighted that you are thinking of taking that step. There can never be enough growers on our Earth and I do believe that growing your own colour adds yet another dimension to gardening and the plant world as a whole. If you can keep it organic, do, the colours are richer and the flora and fauna will thank you for it, as do we. Enjoy!

Woad Tewkesbury is well known for creating the best and strongest blue to date. First discovered in the hills near Tewkesbury, UK by Dr. Hill as a child, this variety of Woad is truly famous. One of my favourites!

Woad has been used for centuries to obtain a blue dye. An attractive plant with 1m high stems, long succulent leaves, which shine like stained glass, with inner blue; foamy clusters and brilliant yellow flowers.

Woad is a biannual plant and the leaves are used for dyeing in the first year. Once the flowers have formed in the second year, the leaves only obtain very little dye and the second year is therefore only used for seed collection.

Sow: In Spring, late February to March in trays

Harvest: Leaves first year from early June

There is a Woad Group on Facebook if you like to have support and share your experiences, feel free to join :) The Woad Project | Facebook

So, what do you get in a pack of Woad Seeds?

Over 50 seeds in a package

Grown in Whitegate, Co. Clare, Ireland - fully traceable

License number IE010713

Open pollinated