seeds
Open-pollinated. Perennial to Zone 5 if mulched heavily. Known as Common Dyer’s Madder. An ancient and excellent source of red dye, native to Southern Europe and Asia, the 4' plants have square stems, whorled leaves and pencil-slender roots. Roots go down 2'. Do not harvest them for three years. Then dig deep to get the tap roots, not the runner roots, and grind them to yield a wash- and light-fast red dye par excellence. Seed can take two weeks to germinate. Start inside in April in 70°+ temperatures and transplant 12-18" apart in loose soil after danger of frost. Mulch deeply and keep beds well weeded. Plants send out runners that could become invasive so dig out the runners periodically or keep the area around the beds mowed. ~45s/g. ①
From early May through October 31, items shipping from
our garden seeds warehouse ship twice a week, usually
Tuesday and Thursday. For quickest turnaround
time order online by noon Monday or Wednesday.
We will not be fulfilling seed orders from May
20 - May 22 while we do physical inventory count. Orders
placed by Monday, May 19 at 10am will be shipped before
the break. We will resume normal order fulfillment on
Friday, May 23.
ships year-round
This item is certified organic