Dyeing of textiles
Practical Action
Common
Name
Alder
Latin Name
Alnus spp
Parts Used
Bark
General Colour Guide
Yellow/ brown/ black
Alkanet
Apple
Blackberry
Betel nut
Blackwillow
Bloodroot
Buckthorn
Cherry (wild)
Dahlia
Dog’s mercury
Dyer’s broom
Elder
Eucalyptus
Fustic
Groundnut
Henna
Hypogymnia
lichen
Indigo
Ivy
Madder
Maple
Marigold
Nettles
Onion
Oak
Ochrolech-ina
lichen
Privet
Ragwort
Safflower
Sloe-
Blackthorn
Tea
Turmeric
Wild
mangosteen
Weld (wild
mignonette)
Woad
Anchusa
tinctoria
Malus spp
Rubus spp
Areca catechu
Salix negra
Sanguinaria
canadensis
Rhammus
cathartica
Prunus spp
Dahlia spp
Mercurialis
perennis
Genista
tinctoria
Sambucus
negra
Eucalyptus
Chloropho-ria
tinctoria
Arachis
hypogea
Lawsonia
inermis
Hypogymnia
psychodes
Indigofera
Hedera helix
Rubia tinctora
Acer spp
Calendual spp
Urtica dioica
Allium cepa
Quercus spp
Ochrolech-ina
parella
Root
Bark
Berries, young
shoots
Nut
Bark
Roots
Twigs, berries,
bark
Bark
Petals
Whole plant
Flowering tops
Leaves, berreis,
bark
Leaves
Wood shavings
Kernel skins
Leaves
Whole lichen
Leaves
Berries
Whole plant
Bark
Whole plant,
flower heads
Leaves
Skins
Inner bark
Whole lichen
Ligustrum
vulgare
Senecio
Carthamus
tinctoria
Prunus spinosa
Camelia
sinensis
Circuma longa
Diospyros
peregrina
Reseda luteula
Leaves, berries
Flowers
Petals
Sloe berries,
bark
Leaves
Root
Fruit
Whole plant
Isatis tinctoria Whole plant
Grey
Yellow
Pink,
Purple
Deep pink
Red, brown
Red
Yellow, brown
Pink, yellow, brown
Yellow bronze
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow, grey
Deep gold, grey
Yellow
Purple, brown, pink
Gold
Gold, brown
Blue
Yellow, green
Orange, red
Tan
Yellow
Beige, yellowy greens
Yellow, orange
Gold, brown
Orange, red (when
fermanted in urine then
boiled)
Yellow, green, red, purple
Deep yellow
Yellow, red
Red, pink, brown
Beige
Yellow
Grey, pink
Olive green
Blue
Table 1. A list of plants commonly used for preparing dyes.
Suggested
Mordant
Alum, iron. Copper
sulphate
Alum, cream of
tartar
Alum
Alum, tin
Iron
Alum, tin
Alum, cream of
tartar, tin, iron
Alum
Alum
Alum
Alum
Iron, alum
Copper sulphate,
alum
Not required
Alum, tin
Alum, tin
Copper sulphate
Alum
Alum, copper
Alum
Alum
Alum
Alum, tin
Alum
Alum
Alum, cream of
tartar
Lime
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