Guide to Flowers for Natural Fabric Dyes
Natural dyeing is a beautiful and eco-friendly way to color fabrics using flowers. Many flowers contain pigments that can be extracted and used to create stunning, plant-based dyes. Below is a Hong Kong florist guide to some of the best flowers for natural dyes, along with the colors they produce and tips on how to use them.
1. Yellow & Gold Tones
Many flowers produce beautiful yellow and golden hues, making them some of the easiest natural dyes to work with.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Color: Bright yellow to deep gold
Best Fabric: Cotton, silk, wool
Dye Process: Simmer fresh or dried petals for 30–60 minutes, strain, and use the liquid for dyeing.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Color: Light yellow
Best Fabric: Wool, cotton
Dye Process: Boil fresh flowers for 30–45 minutes, strain, and use.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Color: Rich golden yellow
Best Fabric: Wool, silk
Dye Process: Use flower heads fresh or dried, simmer for an hour, and strain.
2. Orange & Rust Tones
Flowers with deep warm pigments can produce earthy orange tones.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Color: Orange, rust, or deep gold
Best Fabric: Wool, silk
Dye Process: Simmer fresh flowers for an hour, strain, and dye.
Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus)
Color: Deep orange to rust
Best Fabric: Cotton, silk, wool
Dye Process: Boil petals for 45 minutes to release dye.
3. Red, Pink & Purple Tones
Some flowers produce beautiful soft pinks and deep purples, though these colors can be tricky to set without the right mordant.
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea, dark varieties)
Color: Purple, mauve, sometimes gray
Best Fabric: Wool, silk
Dye Process: Soak petals in warm water overnight, then heat gently before dyeing.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)
Color: Light pink, purple, or blue-gray (often shifts in pH-sensitive environments)
Best Fabric: Silk, wool
Dye Process: Simmer petals, strain, and use immediately. Adding acid (like vinegar) can shift colors.
Rose (Rosa spp., deep red or pink varieties)
Color: Soft pinks, tans, or browns
Best Fabric: Cotton, wool
Dye Process: Boil petals gently to extract color.
4. Blue & Green Tones
True blue is rare in natural dyes, but some flowers can produce bluish or greenish hues.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Color: Light blue to gray-green
Best Fabric: Wool, silk
Dye Process: Requires an alum mordant to hold the blue shade.
Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea)
Color: Light blue to lavender
Best Fabric: Silk, wool
Dye Process: Boil flowers gently and use quickly. Adding acid (like lemon juice) changes blue to purple.
5. Brown & Earthy Tones
Some flowers yield warm, earthy browns that are great for natural, rustic tones.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Color: Olive green, brown
Best Fabric: Wool, cotton
Dye Process: Simmer whole flowers for rich, earthy shades.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus, dark varieties)
Color: Light brown, golden brown
Best Fabric: Wool, cotton
Dye Process: Boil petals for 45–60 minutes for a warm brown shade.
Dyeing Tips & Techniques
1. Preparing the Fabric
Use a mordant (alum, iron, or vinegar) to help the dye bind to fabric.
Pre-soak fabric in a mordant bath for at least an hour before dyeing.
2. Extracting the Dye
Simmer the flowers gently for 30–60 minutes.
Strain the liquid and allow it to cool before adding fabric.
3. Dyeing the Fabric
Submerge fabric and let it soak for several hours or overnight for deeper color.
Rinse with cold water and let dry in the shade to prevent fading.
Dyeing with flowers is a rewarding and sustainable way to create unique, natural fabrics. Experiment with different flowers, mordants, and dyeing times to achieve a variety of shades. Happy dyeing!
