Isatis Species, Dyer's Woad, Woad

I received several thousand seeds from a friend in Colorado recently...I am expecting good things from this plant. I plan to make Indigo...Read More, and redye a dozen or so pair of Levis "shrink to fit" jeans, which ALSO were originally died with Indigo.

Colorado Class A Noxious Weed. Mandatory eradication.
All locations of this plant in Colorado should be immediately reported to th...Read Moree Colorado Department of Agriculture.

A must for those Romano-British historical re-enactments, playing Braveheart or for just frightening off the neighbours in general.
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Isatis tinctoria is probably one of the most well know dye plants we have. The leaves produce a blue dye when boiled or fermented with ammonia or an olive green when mixed with ferrous sulphate.

A once important dye crop up until the late 1800's and was also used to 'fix' other dyes which were likely to fade quickly, particulary indigo which it eventually took second place to. It was also used as an ointment for ulcers and inflammations.

It is a biennial or occasionaly short lived perennial plant from Southern Europe, although it has been widely grown all over Europe, Asia and North Africa and has natrualised where happy.

Flowers June - August, has 4 bright yellow petals shaped into a cross, a honey scent and the tear shaped, dark purple seeds hang loosely on the stem.

It loves well drained soils in full sun. It's also a heavy feeder and if grown too long in one spot, it will rob the soil of all its goodness.

This is on the noxious weed lists in some US states and can be very invasive in other regions.