Eupatorium

Ageratina adenophora

Eupatorium Extract – This dyestuff comes from a genus of flowering plants in the aster family. Ageratina adenophora is known by many common names, including eupatory, sticky snakeroot, and crofton weed. Eupatorium adenophorum is a synonym. There are many species of the genus Eupatorium that contain colourants; interestingly, the 1882 bulletin of the Royal Gardens, Kew, records two species known as Paraguay indigo. Eupatorium gives soft egg-yolk yellows that range into oranges.

See the MAIWA GUIDE TO NATURAL DYES

Mordanting: Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres. For cellulose, first mordant with tannin at 8% WOF, then either 1) use alum at 15% with soda ash at 2% or 2) use aluminum acetate at 8%. 

Dyeing with the extract: Use at 10-15% WOF for a medium depth of shade.

Dyeing with the ground leaves: Use 20-30% WOF for a medium depth of shade.

Options: When used with an iron mordant eupatorium can give earthy moss greens, when overdyed with indigo it provides a satisfying range of yellow to blue-greens.

Below: Eupatorium 10% WOF

Below: Eupatorium 10% WOF and Iron 2% WOF