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

NOTE: SEEDS AND PLANTS CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN EUROPE

Coreopsis are great for eco printing and natural dyeing. They give an abundant display of showy bi coloured yellow and red blooms and will illuminate the garden from summer right through autumn. Common in the southern plains of America, they grow between 45-65cm tall. They prefer a sunny spot and well drained light soil.

Sow in late winter/late spring or late summer/autumn.

Sow at temperatures of around 16 to 21°C (60 to 70°F) or in pots/trays under cover.

Grown and harvested in Ireland using organic principals.

Germination rate 2024 - 87%

100 seeds per packet.

Open-Pollinated seed grown to organic standards in Ireland.

License number: IE010713

Dye colour: bronze orange to yellow. 

Harvest: cut flowers for eco printing or the whole plant to dye. 

Can be used fresh or dry.

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

NOTE: SEEDS AND PLANTS CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN EUROPE

Cota tinctoria, Dyer’s Chamomile,  can be used for dyeing and eco printing. It is a beautiful aromatic plant and produces masses of golden yellow daisies with yellow centres from June through to September. Wonderful as drifts in borders.

Sow directly in March to April.
Will do well in most soils, but good drainage is essential. The optimum growing temperature is 21°C (70°F). Germination will usually take place within 4-7 days. 

Grown and harvested in Ireland
Germination rate 2024 - 88%
License number: IE010713

Dye colour: Yellow and green (with iron)

Colour fastness: Good

Can be used fresh or dried.

Cut as required 

Average seeds per package: 100

ORGANIC WELD 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!

 Weld (Reseda Luteola) has been used for centuries to obtain a fast yellow dye. An attractive architectural plant with 1.5m high stems; a tall biennial, with lance-shaped, deep green leaves often with strongly wavy edges. Slender spikes of tiny yellow flowers are produced in summer. 

Weld is a biannual plant, and the entire plant is used in its second year. However, recent studies have shown, that most of the dye is situated in the flowers and leaves. However, the stem still has some yellow dye in it too, so I would always use the entire plant. 

Sow: In Spring, February to March, in a tray; seed is very fine. Germination can take up to 3 weeks.

Harvest: Leaves, flowers, entire plant in its second year

 So, what do you get in a pack of Weld 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

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

NOTE: SEEDS AND PLANTS CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN EUROPE

Calendula officinalis, also known as pot Marigold, is a delight in any garden. The petals can be added to salads and the flowers can be used for dyeing and eco printing. 

Calendula is a short-lived aromatic herbaceous perennial, but best sown as an annual, growing up to 80 cm (31 in) tall, with sparsely branched lax or upright stems. 

Sow directly in March to April or in August to September
Easily sown directly into soil in late summer or early autumn in milder climates. Will do well in moist soil, but requires good drainage. The optimum growing temperature is 18 to 20°C (65 to 70°F). Germination will usually take 14 to 21 days.  

Grown and harvested in Ireland using organic principles
Germination rate 2024 - 85%
License number: IE010713

Dye fastness: poor to medium.
Part of the plant used for dyeing: Flower

25 seeds per packet.

Open-Pollinated seed grown using organic principles in Ireland.

WOAD BIRMINGHAM ~ 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 Birmingham is a little gem originating from Canada. We are always delighted to receive a new variant of Woad. Sent to us from a member of the Woad Project Facebook group. It has a few special characteristics: a crinkled leaf edge, strong waxy leaves and gives a beautiful blue green colour. 

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 

NOTE: SEEDS AND PLANTS CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN EUROPE

An abundant display of showy deep wine red to black hollyhock flowers on tall stems. They draw the eye in the garden from summer right through autumn. Alcea rosea, is a short lived perennial with a gorgeous single flower. It is great for eco and floral printing creating some blue to purple prints. Be mindful that it will take up some garden space, in particular in height, as it can grow up to 3m tall! It likes it sunny and is definitely an eye catcher!

Keep moist and do not let the seeds dry out once planted. They will usually germinate in 2 to 3 weeks at 20°C (68°F).

Prick out each seedlings as they become large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays. Gradually acclimatize to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out after all risk of frost is over.

Open-Pollinated seed grown using organic principles in Ireland.

Germination rate 2024 - 56%

License number: IE010713

Harvest: collect flowers only as the year goes by.

Can be used fresh or dry.

Dye fastness: poor to medium.

25 seeds per packet.

COLA NUTS 

latin: Colae Nuces tot. botanical: Cola nitida (Vent.) A. Chev.

Cola nuts are a popular source of dye in Africa, often paired with Indigo. They offer a rich, natural orange colour and when combined with Indigo can create an almost black colour. The use of Cola nuts in dyeing has been a well-known and respected tradition in Africa for generations.

Colour fastness: very good

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Please visit this youtube link to watch a video from 1996 using Indigo and Cola beans.

"A Dyeing Art"- Indigo & Cola Nut & Textiles - Circa 1996

https://youtu.be/pG1zd3b7q34

This sewing thread is 100% organic cotton, a fine thread suitable for hand sewing and machine sewing on a paper bobbin.

There are 500m (546yrds) on each spool with the neutral colours also being available in 1000m (1094yrds) length. 

In terms of matching a thread to a fabric, please get in touch, as the colour shown on the monitor can vary. 

Available in an array of over 30 colours!

100% Organic Cotton

1000m