Most people probably consider goldenrod a pesky weed, or maybe a pretty wildflower, depending on the situation. The eye-catching yellow flowers can begin blooming in July and carry on into late September in fields, yards and along roadsides. Goldenrod is one of my favorite natural dyes, partly because it’s so plentiful but also for the beautiful colors it produces. Flowers alone produce yellows and golds; adding the leaves gives greenish yellows.
I use goldenrod quite a bit, stocking up in late summer and early fall. Here’s a sampling of what goldenrod can do in the dye pot:
On Meadow Rustic Sport, left to right: Bright Goldenrod, Mossy Dawn, Mossy Dusk and Midnight Moss.
Then on Donegal Tweed DK: the soft yellow of Light Goldenrod on the left, and bold Goldenrod on the left.
Just look at those colors! Who knew such magic was hiding in those flowers. Now when you see goldenrod blooming, maybe it won’t seem so weedy after all but instead, a useful dye plant.
Use the link to visit the Flora Adora Fibers website for a closer look at glorious goldenrod gold (and green) yarns.