Practical
Plants

Asperula tinctoria

Dyer's Woodruff

a perennial member of the Asperula genus in the family Rubiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rubiaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the roots[6][7][2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Northern and Central Europe.
Habitat
Dry pastures[2]. Meadows and rocky places[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring to early summer in a light position in a cold frame[3]. 2 weeks pre-chilling improves the germination rate[3]. The seed usually germinates in 1 month at 10°c[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or early summer[4]. Basal cuttings of soft young shoots in early summer[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in almost any soil, including dry ones[1]. Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  7. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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