Woad - Isatis tinctoria
Type: Biennial
Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is a biennial plant, native of the Mediterranean and belongs to the family Cruciferae (the brassicas), as do broccoli, cabbage and rape seed.
Woad is best known for its fantastic indigo colour, which is extracted from the leaves, and has been used to dye textiles for thousands of years.
Preferring rich well-drained soil, Woad forms a low-growing cluster of leaves (like spinach) in its first year of growth, reaching heights of 50cm. It is at this stage that leaves are harvested for their dye. In May of the second year, it produces neon yellow flowers, which have a wonderful fragrance and attract plenty of bees.
The plant will reach heights of 1m, and the black seed pods produced at the end of flowering will happily self seed, so removal of the seed heads is vital to ensure it remains contained.
Buy Now
| Size | Unit Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 litre | £4.50 | Out of stock - please enquire |
| 9cm | £2.50 | |
| Seeds | £2.00 |
