Madder seeds are for those who are in it for the long haul! Start seeds indoors and transplant outside once they are a few inches tall. One happy plant can spread to 4 or more square feet, so ideally madder would have its own bed as it can become too comfortable and crawl over its neighbors. Madder can even become mildly invasive if left unwatched. Prefers a sunny spot, and well drained, deep, fertile soil will yield the best color results. Takes about 2-3 years for roots to produce dye, but this plant needs minimal maintenance once established. Each seed packet contains 10 seeds. Madder root will give the illusive orange and deep reds that are tricky to obtain with natural dyes--worth the wait!
Seeds from 2023 and 2024 growing seasons are available. Limited 2023 seeds are available and viable with great germination rates at a 20% discount.
All bedhead fiber seeds have been sourced from farms within the US and are non-gmo.
The image with the sample colors is just a variety of the results that can be achieved. Many variables, such as pH, water hardness vs softness, time of harvest, and quantity can effect the colors.
Photos by Kristina Moravec. Contact bedhead fiber to arrange usage terms.