This year, put aside a part of your garden to plant a rainbow of plants that will grant you beautiful natural dyes! This guide will walk you through five of my favorite dye plants to grow, how to start your seeds, how much space each plant will need, harvesting tips, and what colors you can achieve when dyeing with them.
Whether you have a full garden or just a few pots on a sunny balcony, you can have your own dye garden. All of these plants will be happier and more prolific when planted in the ground, but you can also keep them in large pots set in a sunny window or outdoors.
Planning Your Dye Garden
Choose a spot – Most dye plants thrive in full sun with well-drained soil.
Prep your soil – Enrich your soil with compost. If you have already grown nitrogen-rich plants, like indigo, you can mix indigo leaves into your compost for a boost!
Find seeds – There are so many great options for dye seeds these days! I have indigo and cosmos seeds on my site, as well as a dye garden kit. Other favorites of mine are Grand Prismatic Seed, Blue Light Junction, and Hudson Valley Seed Co.
Start seeds indoors – Many dye plants benefit from an early indoor start before transplanting outdoors. Check out the USDA Hardiness Map to find your garden zone, and plan to start seeds about 6 weeks before the last frost date.
Transplant – when the threat of a frost is gone and give them ample space to grow!
5 Dye Plants to Grow
Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) – Blue
Starting Seeds: Sow indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Press seeds lightly into compost but do not fully cover them. The seeds usually germinate quickly and the plants also grow relatively fast.
Space & Growth: Needs 2 square feet per plant. Grows 2-3 feet tall.
Conditions: Prefers nitrogen-rich soil, warm temperatures, and consistent watering. Not frost-tolerant.
Harvesting: Harvest leaves 1-3 times per season before flowering for multiple pigment extractions! Harvest seeds in October or before first frost.
Hopi Black Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – Purple to Gray
Starting Seeds: Soak seeds overnight and plant indoors about 3 weeks before last frost or direct sow after frost. Plant 3 seeds per each 3- to 4-inch pot. Press the seeds about 1/2 inch below the surface. Sunflowers also do well directly sowed into the ground after last-frost. They will germinate in about 6 to 10 days.
Space & Growth: Needs 2 square feet per plant. Grows 5-8 feet tall.
Conditions: Full sun; thrives in most soils.
Harvesting: Collect seeds in September/October or before the first frost for dyeing. Keep and eye on the birds! They tend to love sunflowers seeds as much as we do.
Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) – Yellow to Orange
Starting Seeds: Start indoors 2 weeks before last frost or direct sow in mild climates.
Space & Growth: 2 plants per square foot. Grows 4-6 feet tall.
Conditions: Full sun; grows well in average garden soil.
Harvesting: Pick flowers before petals fall; continuous harvesting encourages more blooms
Madder (Rubia tinctorum) – Bright Red to Burgundy
Starting Seeds: Germinates in about 2 weeks; start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.
Space & Growth: Needs 1 square foot per plant. Can grow 6-10 feet tall. Spreading roots benefit from a planter box.
Conditions: Prefers sandy, well-drained soil and full sun.
Harvesting: Roots develop best over 3-5 years before harvesting for dyeing.
Marigold (Tagetes patula) – Golden Yellow
Starting Seeds: Sprinkle over moist compost 8 weeks before last frost, then move to a sunny spot.
Space & Growth: Needs 2 square feet per plant. Grows 1-2 feet tall.
Conditions: Thrives in most climates and soil types; excellent companion plant.
Harvesting: Pick flowers before colors fade; use fresh or dried.
Tips for a Happy Dye Garden
Encourage pollinators – Plants like cosmos and marigolds attract bees, wasps, and other beneficial bugs!
Deadhead flowers often – The more you harvest cosmos, marigolds, and other dye flowers, the higher your yield will be.
Share seeds! – Swapping and exchanging seeds and plants is a great way to expand your garden and community.
Dry your plants for winter dyeing – Set up simple dryng racks in a cool, dark space, or invest in a food dehydrator to speed up the process.
Experiment with dyeing – Try fresh vs. dried plant materials to see how colors can change.
