April 18, 2025

Dye Colour Wheel

No madder, welde, or woade no litestere

Ne knew; the flees was of his former hewe

          The Former Age, Geoffrey Chaucer 1345-1400

(ie without dye plants and dyers and their know-how there would just be plain cloth)


The hexagonal raised-bed by the Western bench contains plants that were grown hereabouts for the finishing of woollen broadcloth: fuller’s teasel (for raising the knapp) and five dye plants - 1 dyer’s broom/ greenweed, 2 dyer’s chamomile, 3 weld, 4 woad and 5 madder.


Planted up mid-June

Growing well early July

Flourishing in October
In due course new posts will be added with details about each species:

Woad - 2025 October





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