Mystery plant for natural dyeing
by Elaine on Nov.18, 2013, under Blog Posts
close up of the flower
I have been wandering the roads of Lo de Marcos, my winter home in Nayarit, Mexico in search of dye plants. I came across this plant which has a flower resembling the coreopsis plant. I picked a few blossoms and added hot water and watched a gorgeous orange colour develop. Later I placed a small amount of wool, unmordanted, into the dye water and left in the sun for a few hours. Had a lovely golden yellow develop. Now I am wondering if it is related to the coreopsis family and whether it is lightfast and washfast. Any ideas or thoughts?
January 11th, 2014 on 12:11 pm
Hi ELaine:
I think this plant is Yellow Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus). It is native to Central America so fits the location. I have grown it in my garden in Victoria and recognized the flower. I’ve not tried to dye with it (yet!)
Cheers, Laura