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Superb blues can be obtained from several different indigo-producing plants. Most of these plants are not closely related and come from different families.

Woad, which is related to cabbage, is the principal blue dye plant in Europe.

Important blue and purple dye plants include;
1. Woad
2. Indigo
3. Japanese Indigo
4. Alkanet
5. False Alkanet
6. Logwood

True indigo, related to beans, has been used for centuries in India and, indeed, the word indigo originally meant a dye from India.

In Asia most of the indigo came from Japanese Indigo, which is related to rhubarb and dock. The Americas and Africa also have their own species of indigo-bearing plants.

The logwood tree from the tropics and true alkanet from semi-desert areas also produce purples and blues.
 

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Website and photos by Mike Roberts                 © 2006-08 WildColours
Page last updated 28 Oct 2007