The Universal Madder Plant
The Madder plant has been around since ancient times and was used for dying the cloaks of Libyan women in the time of Herodotus (5th century BCE). It was found in the linen of King Tutankhamun's burial chamber and in wools found in Norse burials. The cultivation of the madder and the use of its ground root for dying the complicated Turkey red process were know in ancient India, Persia and Egypt. By the 10th century it had spread to Asia Minor and into Europe by the 13th century. Today there are over 13,100 species of Madder (from the Rubiaceae family) that can be found in the Mediterranean region, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The plants are generally characterized by whorls of lance-shaped leaves covered in clinging hairs and by small yellowish flowers that grow in clusters. But beware, this plant will take over unless you keep in contained in pots or raised beds. But it's the root of the plant that we use for the dye process. Madder is a ver...
