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Other Blue Dyes

Alkanet, False Alkanet and Logwood are the principal blue dyes apart from woad and indigo.

1. Alkanet
2. False Alkanet
3. Logwood

and Back to
1. Woad
2. Indigo, and,
3. Japanese Indigo

Alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria)
Two plants of the borage family are called alkanet and there is some confusion in the literature as to which is which. Alkanna tinctoria is the true alkanet, and its roots produce a purple dye used in textiles and soap.

Dried alkanet is often sold by companies that sell natural dyes. The dye is not very soluble in water. It needs to be carefully dissolved in alcohol, before it is added to water and then used as a dye. Seeds and plants are hard to find in the UK, and so far I have failed to germinate the seeds I was given. See links for pictures.

False Alkanet (Anchusa officinalis)
This plant is also known as Common Bugloss, Common Anchusa or Dyers' Bugloss and is a perennial plant of the Borage family like true Alkanet.

It grows to nearly two metres tall, is very hairy and has beautiful deep blue flowers (see top of page).

The roots produce a purple dye, but they do not yield anywhere near as much dye as the true alkanet. I am still waiting for my plant to spread, so that I can dig up some roots to try out.
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Logwood (Haematoxylon campecianum)
The tree comes from Central America but it can be grown in Britain. By late 1500s, logwood was exported into Europe in the form of logs, hence its name.

The dye is made from the blood-red heartwood harvested from 11-year old trees.

The wood chips produce grey, black and purple colours. The main use is for dyeing fibres, but logwood is also used to produce a microscopical stain.


For dyeing fibre, follow the same instructions as for dyeing with brazilwood.

The red and the pink are both brazilwood in this design, whilst the purples are logwood.

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Website and photos by Mike Roberts                 © 2006-08 WildColours
Page last updated 17 June 2008