PERSICARIA TINCTORIA SEEDS

(Persicaria tinctoria / Japanese Indigo)
Dye Colour: Blue (Indigo) | Produced in Ireland

Persicaria tinctoria, commonly known as Japanese Indigo, is a fast-growing annual prized by natural dyers for its high indigo content and reliability in temperate climates. Its vibrant green leaves are the source of rich blue indigo pigment, suitable for fresh-leaf dyeing, pigment extraction, and traditional Sukumo vats.

A cornerstone plant for natural dye gardens, Persicaria produces clear, vibrant blues when grown well and harvested at the right moment. It is very frost sensitive and should be protected with horticultural fleece if late frosts occur after planting out.

Dye Fastness: Excellent (with proper indigo processes)

🌱 Basic Growing Information

• Sowing period:
  Indoor sowing mid-March to mid-April
  Direct sow outdoors from mid-May, once frost risk has passed

• Germination time: 7–14 days

• Height: 60–90 cm (24–36 in)

• Preferred location:
  Full sun to light shade; fertile, consistently moist but well-drained soil

• Climate note:
  Frost and wind sensitive — sheltered planting improves growth and pigment yield

✂️ Harvesting Persicaria tinctoria

Harvest leaves when plants reach 40–50 cm, up to 2–4 times during the growing season, allowing fresh regrowth between cuts. For fresh-leaf dyeing or pigment extraction, leaves should be processed as soon as possible after harvesting to retain colour strength.

🌼 Variety & Trial Notes

This is a white-flowered variety that produced the highest pigment yield in our 2024 Persicaria variety trials, which compared seven different types grown in Ireland. It was also the earliest flowering variety, making it particularly suitable for outdoor seed saving in Ireland in most years.

(See the final product image for trial results — this variety is shown as Sample No. 5.)

📦 Additional Details

• Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland

• Germination rate: 85%

• Irish seed licence: IE010713

• Approx. 25 seeds per packet

Please note: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

🌿 Join the Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share growing experiences, learn indigo techniques, and connect with fellow growers.

ANNUAL WELD SEEDS – Reseda luteola

(Traditional Yellow Dye Plant)
Dye Colour: Yellow
Produced in: Ireland

Reseda luteola, commonly known as Weld, is one of the most important historic yellow dye plants, valued for its exceptional clarity and lightfastness. Its tall, slender flower spikes and narrow leaves produce strong, clean yellows that form the foundation for greens and oranges when overdyed with indigo or madder.

Weld is normally a biennial, flowering in its second year. However, this particular variety shows the unusual and reliable trait of flowering in its first year under Irish growing conditions. This makes it especially valuable for dyers seeking faster access to usable dye material, while still maintaining good colour quality.

A cornerstone plant for professional natural dye practice, Weld remains central to gardens focused on consistent, high-grade colour production.

Dye fastness: Excellent (one of the most lightfast natural yellows)

🌱 Basic Growing Information

Sowing period
Mid-March to mid-April indoors
Direct sow from mid-May

Germination time
8–14 days

Height
100–150 cm (40–60 in)

Preferred location
Full sun with well-drained soil
Tolerant of poor or dry ground

✂️ Harvesting for Dye

Harvest the whole plant when approximately half of the flower spikes are in bloom, which is when dye content is at its highest. Cut at the base and use fresh, or dry thoroughly for later use.

Leaves, stems, and flower spikes are all suitable for dyeing and produce strong, clear yellows.

Flowers and plant material may be used fresh or dried for dyeing and eco printing.

🌼 About This Variety

This variety was identified during our 2024 Weld variety trials. While several trial varieties flowered in their first year, none did so as consistently as this one.

As it is the flowering plant that is used for dyeing, this trait offers a significant practical advantage by saving a full growing season. However, dye content testing showed that this variety produces slightly paler colour than our traditional biennial Weld (see Sample No. 5 in the final product image).

This presents an important choice for growers and dyers:

• A usable crop in one year with slightly lighter colour
• Or a brighter crop requiring two full growing seasons

📦 Additional Details

Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland
Germination rate: 68%
Approx. 75 seeds per packet
Irish seed licence: IE010713

Please note: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

COREOPSIS SEEDS (Coreopsis tinctoria / Tickseed)
Dye Colour: Bronze Orange to Yellow | Country of Collection: Ireland

Coreopsis produces an abundance of showy bi-coloured yellow and red blooms that illuminate the garden from summer through autumn. Great for eco-printing and natural dyeing, this hardy plant yields beautiful shades of bronze orange to yellow. It thrives in sunny spots and makes a vibrant addition to any garden.

Colour Fastness: Medium to Good

Basic Growing Information
🌱 Sowing Period: Late winter/late spring or late summer/autumn
⏳ Germination Time: 7 – 14 days at 16–21°C (60–70°F)
🌿 Height: 45 – 65cm (18 – 26in)
☀️ Preferred Garden Location: Full sun with well-drained, light soil

Additional Details
Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland
Germination rate: 87%
License number: IE010713
100 seeds per packet

NOTE: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe. Harvest flowers for eco-printing or the whole plant for dyeing. Can be used fresh or dried.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

CALENDULA SEEDS – Calendula officinalis

(Pot Marigold)
Dye Colour: Yellow to Orange | Produced in: Ireland

Calendula officinalis, commonly known as Pot Marigold, is a generous and easy-to-grow dye plant producing abundant yellow and orange flowers over a long flowering season. Its bright petals are valued for eco printing and natural dyeing, where they create warm, soft tones and expressive botanical marks.

Although technically a short-lived perennial, Calendula is best grown as an annual for reliable flowering and continuous harvest. Reaching up to 80 cm in height, it fits well into both dedicated dye gardens and mixed planting schemes.

Colour fastness: Poor to Medium

🌱 Basic Growing Information

Sowing period
March to April or August to September

Germination time
14–21 days at 18–20 °C (65–70 °F)

Height
Up to 80 cm (31 in)

Preferred location
Full sun with moist, well-drained soil

✂️ Harvesting for Dye & Printing

Harvest flower heads regularly throughout the season to encourage continued blooming. Petals may be used fresh or dried for dyeing and eco printing.

📦 Additional Details

Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland
Germination rate: 85%
Approx. 25 seeds per packet
Irish seed licence: IE010713

Please note: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

AFRICAN MARIGOLD SEEDS – Tagetes erecta

(Traditional Yellow & Orange Dye Plant)
Dye Colour: Yellow & Orange | Produced in: Ireland

Tagetes erecta, commonly known as African Marigold, is a highly productive dye plant producing abundant double flowers in rich shades of yellow and orange. With their distinctive anemone-like form and geometric structure, these blooms are valued for both natural dyeing and eco printing, where they yield warm, golden tones and expressive botanical prints.

Compact and evenly growing, African Marigolds reach around 25–30 cm in height and are well suited to dedicated dye beds, containers, and mixed planting schemes.

Dye fastness: Medium

🌱 Basic Growing Information

Sowing period
Early February to late May

Germination time
5–14 days

Height
25–30 cm (10–12 in)

Preferred location
Full sun with well-drained soil

✂️ Harvesting for Dye & Printing

Harvest flowers regularly throughout the season to encourage continued flowering. Blooms may be used fresh or dried for dyeing and eco printing.

📦 Additional Details

Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland
Germination rate: 68%
Approx. 75 seeds per packet
Irish seed licence: IE010713

Please note: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

ORANGE COSMOS SEEDS

(Cosmos sulphureus)
Dye Colour: Yellow, Orange & Burnt Gold | Produced in Ireland

Cosmos sulphureus, commonly known as Orange Cosmos, produces abundant single flowers in warm shades of yellow, orange, and deep amber. With its open, daisy-like blooms and fine, feathery foliage, this easy-to-grow annual brings both lightness and energy to the dye garden.

Generous in flower and simple to cultivate, Cosmos sulphureus is well suited to natural dyeing and eco-printing, yielding clear sunny yellows, warm oranges, and soft golden tones on fibre depending on dye application. Flowers can be used fresh or dried, making it a flexible and accessible dye plant.

Dye Fastness: Poor to Medium (best on protein fibres, with alum mordant)

🌱 Basic Growing Information

• Sowing period:
  Indoor sowing mid-March to late April
  Direct sow outdoors from mid-May, once frost risk has passed

• Germination time: 7–21 days

• Height: 60–90 cm (24–36 in)

• Preferred location:
  Full sun; light, well-drained soil

🌼 Additional Details

• Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland

• Germination rate: 68%

• Irish seed licence: IE010713

• Approx. 75 seeds per packet

Please note: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

🌿 Join the Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share growing experiences, explore dye techniques, and connect with fellow growers.