Plant · P-946

Madder

Rubia tinctorum

Madder is a herbaceous perennial vine grown for the deep red dye extracted from its roots, historically the principal red dye source across Europe and the Near East before synthetic alternatives replaced it. It climbs and scrambles over neighbouring plants using tiny recurved hooks on its stems and leaves, and performs best trained on a trellis or other support. It tolerates a wide range of soil textures in full sun to partial shade, and its roots are traditionally harvested for dye from plants at least three years old.