The artichoke that we love to eat is actually the globe artichoke, Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, a perennial thistle native to Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. The purple flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud. We enjoy the fleshy lower portions of the bracts on the bud and the base, known as the "heart". The immature florets in the center of the bud is called the "choke" and are inedible in large buds.
To create a green dye bath, the entire artichoke is used. Cut into pieces to help release the dye when boiled with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Black-eyed Susan
The Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, is native to most of North America and makes a striking show during its summer blooming season. It has been cultivated for planting in gardens in most temperate zones.
Gather the leaves and stems of the plant to create a bright olive/apple green dye bath when boiled with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Chamomile Leaves
In addition to a relaxing nighttime tea, Chamomile, Matricaria recutita, can also be used to create a green dye bath by boiling the leaves with water.
Chamomile can be found all over Europe and temperate Asia as well as temperate North America and Australia. The flowers bloom in early to mid summer and have a strong aromatic smell. They have white petals and a yellow center.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Coneflower
While coneflower petals are not green, they can produce a lovely green dye bath when boiled with water.
There are several plants that are called coneflowers including Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Ratibida; but this reference is for Dracopis amplexicaulis. It is native to North America.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Foxglove
Foxglove, Digitalis, is native to western and south western Europe, western and central Asia and northwestern Africa. The flowers are produced on a tall spike and vary in color from purple to pink, white and yellow.
The flowers, when boiled with water, produce an apple green dye bath. Foxglove is the basis for an important heart medication. Discard of the dye bath carefully and keep away from pets and wildlife.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Grass
Grasses, graminoids, are herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the true grasses, as well as the sedges and the rushes. Grasses are, perhaps, the most abundant plants on earth.
Different grasses will produce varying shades of green when boiled with water. Most will produce a yellow green bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Larkspur
Larkspur or Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.
Larkspur has an erect main flowering stem topped with many flowers varying from purple and blue to red, yellow or white. The plants flower from late spring to late summer. These lovely plants when boiled with water and alum produce a great green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Lilac Blooms
Lilac shrubs or trees, Syringa, is part of the olive family and native to southeastern Europe to eastern Asia. The woody plant produces delicate, highly scented flowers each spring that range from light purple (lilac) to white, pale yellow to pink.
These lovely flowers when boiled with water produce a delicate green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis, is a plant native throughout the cool temperate areas of Asia, Europe and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States. It is poisonous perennial that forms colonies through underground rhizomes. The flowers are on a stalk and bell-shaped and sweetly scented. The entire plant is poisonous if consumed.
A light green dye can be created by boiling the leaves with water.
The dye bath must be disposed of properly because the plant (and dye bath) is toxic.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Mulga Acacia
Mint, Mentha, is an herb found in temperate areas around the world. It is an aromatic herb used for cooking, candy making and medicinal uses.
The plant is a perennial and spreads quickly by underground and overground stolons. It can quickly overtake an area. To create a fragrant and dark khaki green dye bath, just boil the leaves with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Nettle
Mulga, Acacia aneura, is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback areas of Australia. Although generally small in size, mulga is long-lived with a typical life span of 200 to 300 years.
The seed pods - fresh or dried - produce a green dye bath when boiled with water. This dye has been used by Aboriginal tribes for hundreds of years.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Pigweed
Nettle, Urticaceae, is a herbaceous perennial plant with stinging hairs on the stems and leaves. They are native to Europe, Africa, Asia and North America and are usually thought of as a nuisance plant. However, when boiled with water, you'll find something good - a nice green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Plantain Roots
Pigweed, Amaranthus palmeri, is native to most of the southern half of North America. The plant is fast-growing and the leaves, stems and seeds are edible. Like spinach and many other leafy greens, amaranth leaves also contain oxalic acid, which can be harmful to individuals with kidney problems if consumed in excess. It can also be toxic to livestock due to the nitrates in the plant.
To create a yellow green bath, boil the entire plant with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Purple Milkweed
We're not talking bananas here, plantain, Plantago, are found all over the world, including America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Europe. They are most often called weeds and grow in wet areas like bogs and ditches. Gather the roots to create a green dye when boiled with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Queen Anne's Lace
Purple milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens, is native to the Eastern, Southern and Midwestern United States. The flowers open as pink but turn darker purple as they mature.
It is also called Butterfly weed because it attracts butterflies as does its cousins Swamp milkweed with light purple flowers and orange butterfly weed. To create a lovely green dye bath, boil the leaves and flowers with boiling water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Red Onion
True Queen Anne's Lace, Ammi majus, originates in the Nile River Valley and has white lace-like flower clusters. But throughout the United States, it is Daucus carota that is called Queen Anne's Lace or wild carrot. This plant is native to temperate regions of Europe, southwest Asia and naturalized in North America and Australia.
Queen Anne's Lace flowers from June to August. It creates multiple seeds that spread everywhere and it multiplies rapidly.
To create a pale green dye bath, boil the entire plant (flowers, leaves and stalk) with water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Black Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Red Pine Needles
Red onions, sometimes called purple onions, are medium to large in size and have a mild to sweet flavor. They are often consumed raw or lightly cooked with other foods. They tend to lose their redness when cooked.
The red color comes from anthocyanidins such as cyanidin which is not stable at high temperatures. Which is why, when combined with boiling water, you will get a medium green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Scotch Broom Stems
Red pine, Pinus resinosa, is native to North America in the eastern mountains. The bark is thick and gray-brown at the base of the tree, but thin, flaky and bright orange-red in the upper crown and give the tree its name.
The leaves are needle-like and dark green and snap cleanly when bent. Combine with needles with boiling water to create a forest green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Snapdragon
Scotch Brrom, Cytisus scoparius, is a perennial shrub native to western and central Europe. The shrub has green shoots with small deciduous leaves, and during spring and summer are covered in profuse golden yellow flowers. The shrub likes sunny sites and thrives in dry, sandy soils.
Use the green stems to create a green dye bath with boiling water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Sorrel
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum, is named for the flowers' resemblance to the face of a dragon that snaps opens and closes its mouth when squeezed. Snapdragons are found in gardens in every temperate area and can have showy white, crimson, or yellow flowers.
To create a green dye bath, use the flowers and boiling water.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Spinach
Sorrel, Rumex acetosa, is a perennial herb that is cultivated as a garden herb or leaf vegetable. The leaves may be puréed in soups and sauces or added to salads; they have a flavour that is similar to kiwifruit or sour wild strawberries.
Boiling the roots and leaves with water will produce a dark green dye bath.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Tarragon
Spinach, Spinacia oleracea, is an edible plant native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant which may survive over winter in temperate regions. Not only is spinach nutritious and good for Popeye, it also makes a wonderful green dye when the leaves are boiled with water. Older leaves produce a richer, darker dye.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes
Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus, is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It is native to a wide area of the Northern Hemisphere. Tarragon is a popular herb used in everything from soft drinks to sauces to vinegar to chicken dishes.
For the best tarragon dye bath, use the entire plant (not dried herbs) with boiling water to get a range of greens from soft to medium.
How to Dye Fabric with Natural Dyes
- Create Natural Blue Dyes
- Create Natural Brown Dyes
- Create Natural Orange Dyes
- Create Natural Peach or Salmon Dyes
- Create Natural Pink Dyes
- Create Natural Purple Dyes
- Create Natural Red Dyes
- Create Natural Yellow Dyes
- Create More Natural Yellow Dyes