Chamomile

Description

Yellow chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria) Gele kamille, (NL)
Family: Compósitae
Dyes: Bright yellow-olive green

From southern Europe, various species of chamomile, including the yellow chamomile, have over the centuries spread to all countries in Europe.
The yellow flower heads are used to extract quercetin. This ingredient produces bright yellow to olive green colours.
Yellow chamomile is also known as dye chamomile, which can be seen from the suffix ‘tinctoria’ meaning ‘used as dye’.
You can also grow the plants yourself in a sunny, dry and stony spot. When they are in full bloom in summer, you can harvest them and let them dry.

The yellow chamomile…
… is a strong butterfly attractor
… smells less strong than the common chamomile
… is also called a plant doctor because it seems to make all plants in its surroundings better.
… is a winter hardy plant
… is related to the wild chamomile (Matricaria recutita), with which you can also paint.

This is one of the natural dye products described in the book Eco-verf by Anja Schrik.