🌸 Madder

Rubia tinctorum

dye_plants perennial

☀️ Sun

full sun to partial shade

💧 Water

moderate

🗺️ Zones

[4,5,6,7,8,9]

🧪 Soil pH

6.0-8.0

🪴 Soil Type

well-drained, deep, sandy loam

📏 Spacing

8-12 inches

📐 Height

2-4 ft (sprawling/climbing)

⏱️ Maturity

3 years for best root harvest

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (4)

🤝 Comfrey

Comfrey provides nutrients for madder's long taproot

🤝 Fruit Trees

Shade-tolerant dye plant beneath orchard trees

🤝 Indigo

Red + blue = purple , the complete historical dye palette in one garden

🤝 Weld

Classic dyer's garden companion , madder (red) + weld (yellow) = orange

⚠️ Keep Apart (0)

No known enemies listed.

📝 Growing Notes

THE red dye plant of antiquity. Roots produce alizarin , the pigment that gave British Army 'redcoats' their color, dyed Turkish rugs, and colored medieval illuminated manuscripts. Harvest roots at 3 years for richest color. The dye palette ranges from coral pink to deep brick red depending on mordant and pH.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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