Dyers Woad

( Isatis tinctoria)

Photos

Mature plant

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Rosette

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Bolting Plant

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Fruit / Seeds

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Background

Dyer's Woad is a native of Europe, this plant was brought here for the production of textile dyes. It thrives in waste areas, gravel pits road sides, roadsides pastures, and any disturbed soils.

Description

Dyer's Woad can be a biennial, short lived perennial or winter annual. Heights of 1 to 3 feet are common and it has a thick deep tap root. The leaves are blue-green with a whiteish mid rib. large plants can produce up to 100,000 seeds. mature seeds turn black to dark brown.

Flowers

Dyer's Woad has a bright yellow bloom that are highly visible in late spring.

Control

Bio-control rust fungus and other agents are under research. Herbicide offers good control if applied at the proper time of year and when applied in rosette to pre-bloom stage.