Goldenrod-- Whole Plant Tops

Goldenrod is usually in season late August through October. Many people won't go near it because they're so terribly allergic to it. I'm not however, and I was lucky to find some early season goldenrod (ha it's barely August!) and try it. Personally, as long as your patient, it find it to be a really easy dye.

A quick note, if you use only flower tops, it is supposed to give brighter clearer colors (and by this it's meant yellower colors), but the entire plant top can be used for greener colors.

Goldenrod Recipe for Whole Plant Tops

1:1 ratio

Pour hot water over plants and let sit for 24 hours. Simmer and do not boil for 45min to an hour (until plants are limp and all color is leeched from the flowers), strain plants out, steep fibers for a day (do not immediately boil). Minimizing the boiling will keep the colors brighter! Simmer lightly to darken colors. Allow to cool before washing out.


Farthest left is Cotton with Soymilk. In the middle wool. Top right is silk, and bottom right is cotton. All were mordanted with alum.

Everything I read said to definitely try the goldenrod with Iron and Copper after mordants. I will post those colors later on.