Birch Leaves or Birch Bark Natural Dye
Betula pendula · Cut Leaves, Whole Leaves or Cut Bark
Explore distinctly different sources of natural colour from the silver birch.
Choose cut or whole birch leaves for soft to rich yellows and olive greens, or select cut birch bark for delicate pink, salmon, peach, beige and brown shades.
Choose your birch material
| Option | Colours | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Cut birch leaves | Yellow, golden yellow and olive green with iron | Easy to measure, soak, extract and contain in a dye bag |
| Whole birch leaves | Yellow, golden yellow and olive green with iron | Supplied in natural dried form; some broken leaves and smaller pieces may be included |
| Cut birch bark | Pink, salmon, peach, beige and brown | Requires a longer soak and extraction; colourfastness is lower than the leaf yellows |
Cut and whole leaves produce the same general colour range. The difference is primarily the form of the material and how easily it can be measured and contained.
Whole dried leaves are naturally fragile. Some broken leaves and smaller pieces should be expected and do not affect their dyeing quality.
At a glance
| Feature | Birch leaves | Birch bark |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Betula pendula | Betula pendula |
| Plant part | Dried leaves | Cut bark |
| Form | Dried leaf material | Cut bark pieces |
| Origin | See selected option or product label | See selected option or product label |
| Colours | Yellow, golden yellow and yellow-green | Pink, salmon, peach, beige and brown |
| With iron | Olive, moss and muted green | Earthy brown and grey |
| Suggested quantity | 100â200% WOF | 100â200% WOF |
| Extraction time | Approximately one hour | Approximately two hours |
| Colourfastness | Good | Poor to moderate |
| Fibres | Wool, silk, cotton and linen | Wool, silk, cotton and linen |
| Mordant | Recommended | Recommended |
How much to use
For either material, use approximately:
100-200g birch leaves or bark per 100g dry fibre
This is equivalent to 100-200% WOF - weight of dry fibre.
Use approximately 100% WOF for lighter shades or increase towards 200% WOF for stronger colour.
Sample first when working towards a particular shade.
Basic birch-leaf dyeing guide
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Prepare: Scour and mordant the fibre using a suitable method, then wet it thoroughly. For wool or silk, use approximately 10â15% alum WOF or follow your preferred method.
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Soak: Cover the leaves with water and leave for approximately 24 hours.
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Extract: Heat to approximately 85â90°C and hold for one hour.
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Strain: Strain through a cloth or keep the leaves contained in a dye bag.
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Dye: Add the thoroughly wetted fibre and heat gently for 30â60 minutes.
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Deepen: Allow the fibre to cool in the bath. Leave overnight where a deeper shade is required.
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Finish: Rinse thoroughly and wash gently.
Basic birch-bark dyeing guide
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Prepare: Scour and mordant the fibre using a suitable method, then wet it thoroughly.
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Soak: Pour hot or boiling water over the bark and leave for 24â48 hours.
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Extract: Heat the bark and soaking liquid gently for approximately two hours.
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Strain: Strain through a cloth, keeping the bark away from the fibre.
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Dye: Add the thoroughly wetted fibre and heat gently for approximately one hour.
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Deepen: Allow the fibre to cool in the bath or leave it overnight.
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Finish: Rinse thoroughly and wash gently.
Dyeing cotton, linen or another cellulose fibre? Find suitable preparation and mordanting methods here.
Modifying with iron
Birch-leaf yellow can be shifted towards olive, moss and muted green. Birch-bark shades can be darkened towards earthy brown and grey.
Use approximately 1â3% iron WOF. Iron acetate is recommended where possible because it is generally gentler on textile fibres than ferrous sulphate.
Iron water may also be used, although homemade preparations vary in strength. Iron acetate can be prepared by combining carefully measured ferrous sulphate with sodium acetate.
Excessive iron can dull colours and weaken textile fibres.
Creating clearer green/turquoise/teal
Birch leaves are great for dyeing tels and turquoise on light blue bases:
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Dye the fibre blue with indigo or woad.
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Rinse and finish the blue-dyed fibre.
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Mordant it using a fibre-appropriate method.
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Overdye it with birch leaves.
The blue is always applied first, followed by mordanting and the yellow birch-leaf bath.
Working with pH
Birch-bark shades may respond to changes in pH.
Soda ash may shift or intensify warm pink, salmon and brown tones. Citric acid can produce different peach, beige or muted shades.
Dissolve modifiers separately, test a small portion of the bath and make adjustments gradually. Take particular care with wool and silk in alkaline conditions.
Colour shifts are not guaranteed and may have different colourfastness from unmodified shades.
Tips from the dye pot
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Choose the material | Leaves produce yellows and olives; bark produces pinks, salmon shades and browns. |
| Use enough material | Begin with 100% WOF and increase towards 200% WOF for stronger shades. |
| Allow extra time for bark | Bark benefits from a 24â48-hour soak and a two-hour extraction. |
| Use iron carefully | Use approximately 1â3% WOF, preferably as iron acetate. |
|
Create clearer greens or teals and turquoise |
Dye blue first, then mordant and overdye with birch leaves. |
| Expect natural variation | Water, fibre, mordant, pH and the plant batch all influence the colour. |
| Protect bark colours | Pink and salmon bark shades are less permanent than leaf yellows. |
| Keep notes | Record the material, WOF, fibre, mordant, pH, temperature and time. |
Colourfastness
Birch leaves
Birch leaves generally produce good colourfastness when the fibre is properly prepared, mordanted, dyed and finished.
Birch bark
Birch-bark pinks, salmon shades and related colours have poor to moderate colourfastness. They may fade or change through exposure to light, washing and changes in pH.
Performance depends on the fibre, mordant, depth of shade, modifiers and aftercare. Protect finished work from prolonged strong sunlight.
Storage and safe handling
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Store tightly sealed, cool and dry, away from direct sunlight.
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For textile dyeing and craft use only.
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Not for consumption or use in food, drinks, cosmetics or herbal preparations.
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Avoid creating or breathing plant dust.
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Prevent contact with the eyes, mouth and open wounds.
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Birch pollen and plant material may cause irritation or an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.
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Wear gloves and suitable protective equipment when handling dusty material.
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Wear gloves and eye protection when using mordants, acids, alkalis or iron.
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Follow the safety instructions for every mordant and modifier used.
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Use dedicated dyeing equipmentânever food-preparation utensils.
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Keep away from food, children and pets.
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For textile dyeing and craft use only - not for consumption.
What you receive
Your chosen net weight of either dried birch leaves or cut birch bark, supplied in a pouch.
Please check the selected material and pack size carefully before ordering.
Mordants, iron, indigo, woad and other modifiers are sold separately.
Packaging
We pack as sustainably as we can while protecting your dye materials. Pouch types may vary according to pack size and the availability of our preferred lower-impact options.
Display jars and other photographic props are not included.
Learn with us
Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your results, ask questions and explore natural colour alongside fellow natural dyers and dye-plant growers.