Madder

Rubia tinctorum, Dyer’s Madder, Rubia

Famous for its roots which can produce a vivid range of hues from orange to red, Madder is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean although other species grow in Asia and Africa as well. The ground roots contain the pigment alizarin a well-known red dye that was used for thousands of years. There is evidence of cloth dyed with Madder root in Egyptian tombs and numerous archeological sites. Popular and widely grown in in Medieval Europe as a dye plant, Madder has also been used medicinally to bring on delayed menses and treating urinary gravel.  The plant is in the same family with Cleavers and has similar Velcro like trailing stems with sticky leaves. An excellent addition to the Dye Garden, Madder is quite drought tolerant and prefers a well-drained, sunny location. Harvest roots for dyeing after at least 2 years. Hardy Perennial. Hardiness Zones 5-9