IRISH GROWN AFRICAN MARIGOLD DYE

€9,95

Dried African marigolds in a glass jar with a metal clasp on a white wooden shelf

African Tagetes dried flowers in a basket orange and yellow

AFRICAN TAGETES Tagetes erecta ~ flowers orange and yellow, whole, natural dye, natural dyeing, grown hand picked in Co. Clare, Ireland

A field of blooming orange marigolds under a blue sky with dramatic dark clouds, with green trees in the background.

A field of blooming orange marigolds under a blue sky with dramatic dark clouds, with coreopsis flowers in the background.

Irish-Grown African Marigold Flowers

Tagetes erecta L. · Grown and Dried in County Clare · Harvest 2026

Our African Marigold flowers are grown, hand-harvested and carefully dried here at AppleOak FibreWorks in County Clare, Ireland.

Rich in yellow carotenoid pigments - particularly lutein - the whole dried flower heads produce clear yellows, golden yellows and warm yellow-orange shades. Iron shifts the colour towards muted olive and green-brown, while layering the yellow over an indigo or woad base produces lively greens.

This is a small-scale, seasonal crop. Availability is limited to the quantity produced during our 2026 growing season.

At a glance

Botanical name: Tagetes erecta L.
Common names: African Marigold and Aztec Marigold
Plant part: Whole flower heads
Form: Whole and dried
Harvest: 2026
Grown in: County Clare, Ireland
Grown and harvested by: AppleOak FibreWorks
Material: Raw botanical dye material
Main colourants: Carotenoids, particularly lutein and related yellow pigments
Natural colours: Clear yellow, golden yellow and warm yellow-orange
With iron: Muted olive, khaki and green-brown
With an indigo or woad base: Clear greens through to deeper blue-greens
Fibres: Wool, silk, cotton and linen
Suggested quantity: Approximately 25–100% WOF
Mordant: Recommended
Colourfastness: Generally medium to good when suitably mordanted, dyed and finished
Suitable for vegan projects: Yes

Grown by us in County Clare

Every stage of this crop - from raising the plants to harvesting and drying the flowers - takes place here at AppleOak FibreWorks.

The flowers are picked by hand and dried for storage without first being extracted or processed into a concentrated dye. Natural variations in size, shape and colour are part of this homegrown botanical material.

Stock is limited to the amount produced during the 2026 harvest.

How much to use

For a lighter clear yellow, begin with:

25–50g dried Tagetes flowers per 100g dry fibre

Equivalent to 25–50% WOF - weight of dry fibre.

For a stronger golden yellow or yellow-orange, use approximately:

50–100g dried Tagetes flowers per 100g dry fibre

Equivalent to 50–100% WOF.

A 25 g pack contains approximately 15–20 flower heads. The number varies because the flowers naturally differ in size.

The final shade depends on the flower colour, fibre, mordant, water chemistry, extraction temperature, dye quantity and processing time.

Basic hot-dyeing guide

Prepare: Scour and mordant the fibre using a suitable method, then wet it thoroughly.
Soak: Cover the dried flowers with water and leave them to soak overnight.
Extract: Heat the flowers and soaking liquid gently at approximately 75–85°C for one hour. Avoid prolonged vigorous boiling.
Strain: Strain the liquid through a cloth. The flowers may also be contained inside a dye bag and returned to the bath.
Dye: Add the prepared fibre and hold the bath at approximately 75–85°C for one hour.
Deepen: Allow the fibre to cool in the dye bath. Leave it overnight where a deeper shade is desired.
Finish: Remove the fibre, rinse thoroughly and wash gently.

For wool, approximately 10% alum WOF may be used, or follow your preferred wool-mordanting method.

Dyeing cotton, linen or another cellulose fibre? Find a suitable mordanting method here.

Experimental cold dyeing

Cold extraction is possible, but the result is likely to be softer and less predictable than colour produced with gentle heat.

Soak the flowers for 24–48 hours, strain the liquid and add suitably prepared fibre. Leave the fibre in the cold bath for one to three days, moving it gently from time to time.

Cold-extracted results depend heavily on the water temperature, soak duration, flower quantity and fibre preparation.

Creating green with indigo or woad

Tagetes produces a clear yellow that can be layered over indigo or woad to create lively greens.

Always apply the blue first.

Dye the fibre with indigo or woad, allow it to oxidise fully, then rinse and finish it thoroughly. Mordant the blue fibre using a suitable method before overdyeing it with Tagetes yellow.

A pale blue base combined with a strong yellow generally produces a brighter green. A deeper blue base produces darker blue-green shades.

Colour shifts with iron

Iron shifts Tagetes yellow towards muted olive, khaki and green-brown.

Use iron sparingly. Approximately 1–3% WOF is generally sufficient when testing these darker shades.

We prefer iron acetate where possible because it is gentler on fibres than ferrous sulphate. Excessive iron may dull the colour, make protein fibres feel harsh and contribute to fibre damage over time.

Iron and other modifiers are sold separately.

Tips from the dye pot

Tip	Details
Choose the quantity	Use 25–50% WOF for lighter yellows and 50–100% WOF for stronger golden shades.
Use gentle heat	Extract at approximately 75–85°C
Cool in the bath	Allowing the fibre to cool in the colour may help deepen the shade.
Reuse the flowers	A second extraction may produce a useful paler yellow.
Create greens correctly	Apply indigo or woad first, then rinse, finish, mordant and overdye with Tagetes.
Modify carefully	Iron shifts the colour towards olive but should be used sparingly.
Keep notes	Record the WOF, flower colour, fibre, mordant, water chemistry and processing time.

Colourfastness

Tagetes can produce medium-to-good lightfastness and washfastness when the fibre is suitably prepared, mordanted, dyed and finished.

Published studies have found that mordanting generally improves colour strength and fastness. Unmordanted shades may fade more readily.

Performance still depends on the fibre, mordant, depth of shade, extraction method and aftercare. Sample and light-test when permanence is important.

Storage and safe handling

Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
For textile dyeing, paper dyeing and craft use only.
Not for consumption or use in food, drinks, cosmetics or herbal preparations.
Avoid creating or breathing dust or dried plant particles.
Prevent contact with the eyes, mouth and open wounds.
Tagetes plants may cause irritation or an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.
Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Wear suitable protective equipment when handling dusty material.
Follow the safety instructions for all mordants and modifiers used.
Use iron sparingly; excessive iron can damage fibres.
Use dedicated dyeing utensils and containers—never food-preparation equipment.
Keep away from food and out of reach of children and pets.
For textile dyeing, paper dyeing and craft use only - not for consumption.

What you receive

Your chosen quantity of whole, dried African Marigold flower heads from our 2026 County Clare harvest, supplied in a pouch.

A 25g pack contains approximately 15–20 flower heads. The exact number varies according to their natural size.

Mordants, indigo, woad, iron and other dyeing supplies 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 and explore natural colour alongside fellow dyers and dye-plant growers.