Natural Dyes: This chart is from the HGA COE in Dyeing. There are many other natural dyes, this is to give one a place to start in dye investigation. This chart, enlarged to include more dyes and/or information will be in the Complex Weavers' Medieval Textiles issue #39.
Natural Dye |
Botanical Name |
Country of Origin |
Material Type |
Active Dye |
Available Forms |
Safety/Environmental concerns |
Brazilwood |
Haematoxylum brasiletta, Caesalpinia sappan, C. echinata |
Brazil, S. America |
Wood of tree |
brazilin |
Sawdust, extract |
Considered non-toxic. |
Cochineal |
Dactylopius coccus |
Central & S. America |
Entire insect |
carminic acid |
Dried insects |
Exposure Standards: None established. Engineering Controls: Use adequate general or local exhaust ventilation to keep fume or dust levels as low as possible. From MSDS Worksafe Australia |
Cutch |
Accacia catechu |
India, Nepal, S.E. Asia and the Philippines |
Wood of tree |
catechutannic acid & catechin |
Crystals, extract, wood chips |
Acacia Catechu is in danger of depletion. There has been no replanting since 1945. The current projections of availability are between 5-7 years, at which time most Acacia catechu trees will be gone (per US Agency for International Development) catchin is an irritant |
Fustic |
Rhus Cotinus |
Europe |
Wood of tree |
fustin & fisetin |
Wood chips |
Considered non-toxic |
Fustic |
Morus tinctoria |
West Indies Tropical America |
Wood of tree |
morin |
Wood chips |
Considered non-toxic |
Indigo (Japanese) |
Polygonum Tinctorum |
Japan, Orient |
Leaves |
Indigo |
Plant, powder, block |
MSDS from Ashland Chemical: Eye contact can cause irritation. Not harmful to skin & breathing small amounts not considered problematic. Pure chemical is noted as being an irritant. |
Indigo |
Indigofera tinctoria |
Africa, S. Asia middle East. |
leaves |
indigo |
Plant, powder, block |
|
Indigo (woad) |
Isatis tinctoria |
Russia, central & N. Europe |
leaves |
indigo |
Plant, powder, block |
|
Logwood |
Haematoxylon campechianum |
Jamaica, West Indies |
Wood of tree |
Hematoxylin |
Wood chips |
Exposure Standards: No exposure standard allocated Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation recommended. From MSDS Worksafe Australia. UK MSDS note is harmful if swallowed, and is an irritant. Goggles to be worn |
Madder |
Rubia tinctoria |
Mediteranean region & S. Europe, Central and Western Anatolia |
roots |
dihydroscyanthraquinon, & purpurin |
Dried root, ground root, extract |
Exposure Standards: Nuisance particulates 10mg/m3 total dust (ACGIH) Engineering Controls: Local exhaust recommended. From MSDS Worksafe Australia If using pure chemicals, use goggles, gloves, respirator |
Osage |
Maclura pomifera |
Red River drainage of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas |
Wood |
morin |
Wood chips, extract |
Fruit is poisonous if eaten. Sap can cause dermatitis. |
Walnut, Persian |
Juglans regia |
Turkey |
Nut hulls, roots |
juglone |
Nut hulls |
Interior nut is edible, hull is considered non-toxic in whole form. The tree roots emit chemicals that keep other plants from growing under the tree. Juglone, the pure chemical, is highly toxic, if using it wear goggles, respirator, gloves, lab coat and proper ventilation. |
Walnut, Black |
Juglans nigra |
Northeast and upper Midwest United States |
Nut hulls, roots |
juglone |
Nut hulls |
|
Weld |
Reseda luteola |
Europe |
Leaves, plant |
Luteolin & apigenin |
Plant leaves |
Considered Non-toxic. Luteolin is an anti-oxidant being used in cancer research as in apigenin, but apigenin is also an irritant requiring safety equipment |