ALDER CONES ~ whole
ALDER CONES ~ whole

ALDER CONES – Alnus glutinosa | Natural Tannin Dye | Brown & Yellow Shades | Medium–Good Fastness

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ALDER CONES – Alnus glutinosa
Natural Dye Material | Rich in Tannins | Origin: Europe

Alder cones, much like alder bark, are rich in natural tannins that yield soft, earthy shades of brown, beige and warm yellow. Depending on the concentration and modifiers used, they can produce both gentle golden hues and deeper nut browns with a pleasant, organic tone.

Naturally high in tannins, alder cones offer medium to good colour fastness and can be used alone or as a tannin base before other plant dyes.


Dyeing Properties

Colour range: yellow–brown to warm chestnut tones
Tannin level: moderate to high
Colour fastness: medium to good
Use for: wool, silk, cotton, linen and paper

Iron modifiers darken the colour, shifting it towards greys and warm browns.


Basic Recipe

Mordant: Alum 10–15% WOF (weight of fibre)
Dyestuff: Alder cones 100–200% WOF

  1. Pour boiling water over the cones and allow to steep for 24–48 hours.

  2. Simmer gently for about 2 hours, then strain.

  3. Add the pre-mordanted fibre to the dye bath and leave until the desired shade is reached, or soak overnight for stronger results.

  4. For deeper tones, add a small amount of iron modifier at the end of the dyeing process and/or leave out the Alum mordant.


In a Nutshell

Botanical name: Alnus glutinosa
Form: Whole cones
Origin: Europe
Use: Natural dye / tannin source
Colour fastness: Medium to good
Storage: Keep dry, cool and away from direct sunlight


An earthy, versatile tannin source producing warm, natural tones — ideal for both standalone dyeing and tannin-rich underlayers.

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