Dyes from plants have been used for many thousands of years all around the world. Their early history has been lost as both textile and dye decompose in the ground over time. Only now and then when the conditions are right does an archaeological dig recover a fragment hundreds of years old.

Everything that would soak up dye has been dyed and used to adorn the lives of people. But plant dyes today are mainly used to dye textile fibres such as wool, linen, cotton and silk. Few people today use plants to dye leather or wood as chemical dyes have taken over. Not so long ago plant dyes were  even used in paints to colour books or walls with but since the invention of chemical dyes in 1856 by William Henry Perkin the use of the humble plant has declined. Only among hobbyists does the use of plant dyeing still exist.  

Today this renewable and on the whole environmentally friendly way of producing colour is slowly making a come back with some people.

I have been plants dyeing for nearly 30 years and in that time I have collected, bought and grown plant for the dye pot. Collecting requires some restraint to leave enough plant still growing so you do not deplete the supply. Even in your own garden when collecting wild plants, or some would call them weeds, requires the same restraint. Cut down all the stinging nettles might mean they take a couple of years to come back again.

Growing your own dye plants can be both interesting and difficult. My attempt at growing Woad has been a failure. Slugs like the young leaves too much and to put slug killer down would, if it gets into the dye pot, change the colour and spoil the pot. However my Weld and Madder growing has always been a success.