Dyer's Woad
Dyer's Woad is a biennial plant in the Mustard family that is native to Europe and Southern Russia. Traditionally, it was used as a blue dye prior to indigo and was introduced to North America during the colonial period. In the Great Basin Region, this aggressive invader has taken over native plants, thus negatively affecting our surrounding environment.
In the first year, Dyer's Woad is a rosette that has dark green, rubbery leaves and a prominent white mid-vein. The second year plant can reach up to 4 feet in height and has bright yellow flowers. As the seeds develop, they start green to change to dark purple before dropping. This plant has a large tap root that can extend up to 5 feet into the ground. When digging, it is important to try and get as much of the root out as possible--generally about 2 inches will be sufficient to prevent the plant from sprouting up again. The seeds of Dyer's Woad contain chemicals that inhibit the germination of surrounding seeds, reducing native competition. The seeds also remain viable in the soil for up to 30 years so it is especially important to prevent the seeds from spreading! |