Dye plant seeds ‘North’

• 5 packets of organic dye plant seeds
• Grown by Botanika
• With sowing and growing user guide
• Color harmony: The sea blue (indigo), crystal yellow (dyer’s chamomile) and violet purple (mallow) are the composition of the chillingly captivating ‘North’, which are complemented with the honey (coreopsis) and gold (marigold), bringing the comforting promise of light and cheer.

Japanese indigo / persicaria tinctoria /
The ‘Japanese indigo’ is a subtropical, frost-sensitive annual, thus seed saving at the end of the season is rather cumbersome. It has few pests and is a resistant plant; the leaves can be harvested multiple times in a single season. Similar to other indigo varieties, the leaves contain indican, the precursor of indigo. Fresh processing yields the most beautiful aqua tones. The fermentation-based processing of a larger quantity of leaves yields traditional indigo blues. Until the introduction of Indian indigo, this variety was the most important blue dye across Asia and in Japan ‘Tade-ai’ continues to be the cult material of traditional indigo dyeing to this day. Its characteristic medium-blue is the symbol of the second ancient element, water.

Dyer’s chamomile / anthemis tinctoria /
The ‘dye garden’s pioneer’ is a perennial weed. It thrives in direct light, tolerates drought and grows into a small bush. It struggles in clay soil and shade, but can be planted into rock gardens and arid surroundings. The dyer’s chamomile flowers in mid-summer, the lively yellow flowers reminiscent of daisies continue to bloom throughout the hot months. This plant self-seeds and visibly expands year by year. The antioxidant luteolin contained in its petals is responsible for the dyer’s chamomile’s dye property. This uv-blocking flavonoid does not only attract pollinators but is an important bio active component. We can dye clear and fast yellow hues with the flowers.

Dyer’s black hollyhock / althaea rosea var. nigra /
The ‘Black Eden’ is a perennial plant, but usually only flowers in the second year and lives for 4-5 years.  The midnight-crimson flowers blossom continuously from June to September, the dye garden is filled with a multitude of blooms. Its abundance of flowers dye a range of purple, blue and teal shades depending on the pH of the dye bath and mordanting. As a showy decorative and dye plant it was typically grown in the rich oasis towns of the ‘Silk Road’, Bukhara and Samarkand. It became widespread in Europe from the 19th century onwards. Particularly so in the Bavarian Alps where they enriched red wine with a more fruity taste with hollyhock petals due to regional climatic conditions. Its anthocyanin content is an excellent and stable food colorant in gels, jams and confectionery. Herbalism traditionally makes use of the blossoms in a concoction for cough-relief and anti-inflammation, and it is also used by the cosmetics industry for its adstringent and vitalizing effect.

Dyer’s coreopsis / coreopsis tinctoria /
The ‘honey of the New World’ is a perennial plant. It can be sown from mid-April; it is a fast grower that blossoms in mid-summer. Coreopsis prefers a sunny spot and is relatively drought-tolerant. Young seedlings should be protected from pests. The characteristic, bi-coloured flowers always turn towards the sun. By picking the flowers regularly, we can promote further flowering, in mild autumns a second wave of flowering usually occurs. Coreopsis dyes honey-yellow and warm orange tones. In Native American cultures it was a popular drink due to its flavourful aroma. Its roots were considered a life elixir by the Navajo and the blossoms were turned into infusions by Zumi women as a fertility enhancer.

Marigold / tagetes patula /
The ‘Aztec gold’ is an annual ornamental plant that blooms continuously until the first frost. Picking the flowers regularly stimulates further flowering. With its strong aroma, marigold keeps pests away so is indispensable in vegetable patches as a protective-supportive plant. Its most important active ingredient is carotenoid that yields the warm sun yellow dye to the petals. Marigolds are easy to store when dried. In many parts of the world including India and Mexico, marigolds are an essential component of ritual, religious and fertility ceremonies. In some areas the edible petals are used as a food colorant to replace saffron.