Isatis tinctoriaWoad
This native of southern Europe became especially beloved in northern Europe, where it has been used since prehistoric times. A member of the cabbage family, this native herb provided the only fast blue dye available in the West until the introduction of indigo in the mid-1600s. As with indigo, the dye process is complicated enough that you wonder how people ever discovered it. Overdye a woad-colored fabric with weld to make Lincoln green, the color worn by Robin Hood's men. A kind customer sent in a quote from The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom that implies that the Picts painted woad patterns upon their bodies in order to aid in shapeshifting.
This is a
Saturn herb,
probably because of its sulfur content and because
its dye produces a Saturn color. It has been
used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for sore
throats, hepatitis, fevers (clears heat), and as
an antiseptic, and in times of famine was eaten
with oil and salt. In Europe, it was used as
a poultice for pain in the spleen, for skin
ulcers, and to stop bleeding. This is an invasive
plant in western states because it likes to grow
in open sites, and since people tend to clear land
of trees, woad has become real attached to humans.
It isn't edible for livestock, though; this is
another reason why it is considered a "pest."
A short-lived perennial or biennial, this
herb forms a rosette of leaves the first year.
The tap root can get more than 5ft/1.5m long,
so this is a good selection for soil that needs
breaking up and nutrients brought to the
surface. The second year, a stalk up to 4ft/1.2
m high comes up with the flowers on it. Woad
can be grown throughout much of North America
(zone 3-10).
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How to grow
Woad: Sow in
spring or late summer. Soak seeds overnight
in tepid water, then plant, barely covering (husk
for higher germination). They will germinate in 10
days. Plant out in full sun and well drained soil.
Keep well weeded and give plenty of
fertilizer (fish emulsion works great). Harvest
young leaves (old ones are not good) when you need
them, and harvest seeds when pods turn purple and
detach easily. Husk the seeds before
planting (the pods contain a germination
inhibitor).
General
growing info.
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Isatis tinctoria
Woad
30 seeds $4.00
This seed cannot be shipped to AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NV, OR, UT, WA, or WY.
Click for Shipping Prohibitions
Uses in
Witchcraft & Magick:
Shapeshifting
Saturn Herb
Other dye plants:
Indigo
Weld
Dyer's
Chamomile
Dyer's Broom
Dyer's
coreopsis
Safflower
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