IRISH WOAD SEEDS (Isatis tinctoria)
Dye Colour: Blue | Country of Collection: Ireland

Woad is a unique and historic dye plant that has been used for centuries to create a stunning blue dye. Grown to organic standards in Co. Clare, Ireland, this biennial plant boasts 1m high stems with succulent leaves and produces foamy clusters of brilliant yellow flowers and is a beautiful addition to your garden, perfect for dyeing and eco-printing.

The leaves of Woad are harvested in the first year for dyeing, while the second year is dedicated to seed collection. If you’re looking for a way to grow your own colour, this is the plant for you.

Colour Fastness: Medium to good, depending on dye method.

Basic Growing Information
🌱 Sowing Period: February to March (in trays)
⏳ Germination Time: 7 – 21 days at 15-18°C (59-64°F)
🌿 Height: 1m (3ft)
☀️ Preferred Garden Location: Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil

Additional Details
Grown to organic standards in Ireland for conservation purposes
Germination rate: 85%
License number: IE010713
Over 100 seeds per packet

Harvesting:

• First Year: Harvest leaves from July to September for dyeing
• Second Year: Collect seeds, as the leaves no longer produce dye

NOTE: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

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WOAD BIRMINGHAM SEEDS (Isatis tinctoria)
Dye Colour: Pastel-Blue | Country of Collection: Ireland

Woad Birmingham is a unique and exciting variant of Woad, originating from Canada. Grown with care in Whitegate, Co. Clare, Ireland, it features beautiful crinkled leaves, waxy surfaces, and offers a rich pastel-blue dye when used in the first year. With its 1m high stems, succulent leaves, and brilliant yellow flowers in its second year. Woad is a charming addition to any garden, perfect for those interested in dyeing and eco printing.

Woad has been valued for centuries as a source of blue dye. In its first year, the leaves are harvested for dyeing; in the second year, the plant produces and abundance of yellow flowers, followed by seeds and little to no dye.

Colour Fastness: Medium to Good, depending on dye methods.

Basic Growing Information
🌱 Sowing Period: Late February to March (in trays)
⏳ Germination Time: 7 – 21 days at 15-18°C (59-64°F)
🌿 Height: 1m (3ft)
☀️ Preferred Garden Location: Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil

Additional Details
🌍 Country of Origin: Ireland
🔬 Germination Rate: 85%
🌱 License Number: IE010713
💚 Approx. 50 seeds per packet

Harvesting:

• First Year: Harvest leaves from early June for dyeing
• Second Year: Collect seeds only, as leaves no longer produce dye

NOTE: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

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WOAD TEWKESBURY SEEDS (Isatis tinctoria)
Dye Colour: Strong Blue | Country of Collection: Ireland

Woad Tewkesbury is a renowned variety of Woad, famous for producing one of the best and strongest blue dyes. Originally discovered in the hills near Tewkesbury, UK, by Dr. Hill, this variety is a favourite among natural dyers. Its 1m high stems are adorned with succulent leaves, and it produces foamy clusters of brilliant yellow flowers in its second year.

Woad has been used for centuries to create a beautiful blue dye. In the first year, the leaves are harvested for dyeing. In the second year, the plant produces seeds, and the leaves no longer yield dye.

Colour Fastness: Medium to Good depending on dye method.

Basic Growing Information

🌱 Sowing Period: Late February to Early April (in trays)
⏳ Germination Time: 7 – 21 days at 15-18°C (59-64°F)
🌿 Height: 1m (3ft)
☀️ Preferred Garden Location: Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil

Additional Details

Grown to organic standards (not yet certified)
Germination rate: 85%
License number: IE010713
Over 50 seeds per packet

Harvesting:

• First Year: Harvest leaves from early June for dyeing
• Second Year: Collect seeds only as the leaves no longer produce dye

NOTE: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe.

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

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.

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

Open pollinated

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WELD SEEDS (Reseda luteola)
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. 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 variety is unique in its unexpected reliable trait of flowering in its first year in the Irish climate. Weld is a cornerstone plant for dyers seeking reliable, professional-grade colour.

Dye Fastness: Good (one of the most lightfast natural yellows)

Dye Fastness: Excellent 

Basic Growing Information

🌱 Sowing Period: Mid-March to mid-April indoors, direct sow mid-May
⏳ Germination Time: 8 – 14 days
🌿 Height: 100 – 150 cm (40 – 60 in)
☀️ Preferred Garden Location: Full sun; well-drained soil, tolerant of poor or dry ground

Additional Details

• Open-pollinated & organically grown in Ireland
• Germination rate: 68%
• License number: IE010713
• 75 seeds per packet

Harvesting Reseda luteola
Harvest the whole plant when half of the flowers are open on the spikes, 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

About this Variety We discovered this variety during the Variety trials we carried out in 2024 (read about our trials here). Some of the other varieties also flowered in their first year, but none as consistently as this variety. As it is the flowering plant that is used for dyeing this is of great benefit for it saves a whole season of growing. However, in the dye content tests we carried out, it did not perform as well as the biennial variety sold on this website (see sample number 5 in the last product image). The question remains whether it is worth having a slightly paler crop in 1 year or a slightly brighter crop taking 2 years to grow. 

NOTE: Seeds and plants can only be shipped within Europe. Flowers can be used fresh or dried for dyeing and eco-printing.

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