Practical
Plants

Rubia tinctorum

Madder

a perennial evergreen member of the Rubia genus in the family Rubiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Rubia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
moderate
Height
1 m
Spread
1 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The root is aperient, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic and emmenagogue[9][11][7]. It is taken internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder stones[8]. The root is seldom used in herbal medicine but is said to be effective in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dropsy and jaundice[9]. The roots are harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 3 years old. They are peeled and then dried[8]. When taken internally the root imparts a red colour to the milk, urine and bones, especially the bones of young animals, and it is used in osteopathic investigations[9][6].

Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue

Material uses

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

A very good quality red dye is obtained from the roots. Some reports say that 2 year old roots are used in the spring and autumn[10][6][8] whilst others say that 3 year old roots are used[3][5]. The roots can be dried for later use[3]. The dye can also be extracted from the leaves[3]. This dye is also used medicinally[6]. The leaves and stem are prickly, the whorls of leaves having spines along the midrib on the underside[9]. This feature enables them to be used for polishing metalwork[9][2].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Polish

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain[4].
Habitat
Neglected ground, hedgerows and among rubble[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate[6]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established[6]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light sandy soil in full sun[1]. Plants grown in fertile well-limed soils produce more pigment in the root[3]. This plant was at one time widely cultivated for the red dye obtained from its roots, this dye is now manufactured chemically[6]. However, it is still cultivated in Europe as a medicinal dye plant. The plant produces many side roots that can travel just under the surface of the soil for some distance before sending up new shoots[9]. This species is closely related to R. peregrina[9].

References

  1. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  2. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  3. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩

  11. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

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