Natural Dyes - Madder

Madder - Reds, Pinks and Purples

Madder dye is a natural dye that is obtained from the roots of the madder plant (Rubia tinctorum). The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used for centuries to produce a range of colours, including reds, pinks, and purples. The madder plant is a perennial that produces small, yellow flowers and has a long, slender root system. The roots of the plant contain a group of compounds called alizarin, purpurin, and munjistin, which are responsible for the dye's colouring properties.

Madder dye was traditionally used to dye textiles, such as wool, cotton, and silk, but historically, it was also used to colour leather and parchment. The dye is often used to produce reds, but it can also be used to produce a range of other colours by mixing it with other dyes or by altering the pH of the dye bath.

Natural dyes - Madder Plant — Madder dye is a natural dye that is obtained from the roots of the madder plant (Rubia tinctorum). Natural dyeing craft courses available in our FelinFach online shop, **click here..**.

Growing Madder

Madder (Rubia tinctorum) grows best in well-drained, loamy soil that is rich in organic matter and has a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Madder plants prefer a sunny location and will tolerate partial shade, but they will not tolerate drought conditions.

To grow madder, you can start the seeds indoors in pots in the late winter or early spring, or you can sow the seeds directly in the ground once the threat of frost has passed. The seeds should be sown about 1/4 inch deep in a well-draining soil mixture and kept moist until they germinate. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted into the garden or into larger pots.

Madder plants will grow to a height of about 2-3 feet and will spread to a width of about 1-2 feet. The plants will produce small, yellow flowers throughout the summer. To harvest the roots, you can dig up the plants in the fall after the first frost. The roots should be carefully washed, trimmed, and dried before they can be used to produce the dye.