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Plant Mordants
 

1. Staghorn Sumac
2. Rhubarb
3. Juniper
 

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
The leaves contain tannin which can be used in the process of mordanting cotton. Sumac is also used in treating leather.

Some people have an allergic reaction to sumac.

Apparently, 50 gm of fresh sumac leaves is the equivalent of 6 gm of tannic acid.

Rhubarb (Rheum spp)

Tibetans use the liquor from boiled rhubarb leaves as natural mordant that works best with animal fibres.

Apparently, a pound of rhubarb leaves can mordant several pounds of fibre. Make sure you boil the leaves in a well-ventilated area, as the fumes can cause problems, and note that rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, which is a poison, and should not be eaten.
Rhubarb roots as a dye

Juniper (Juniperus spp)
Navajos burn green Juniper needles, gather the ashes and use them as a mordant instead of alum. Ashes and water form a kind of lye, which is alkaline and can cause burns if not used with care. 

Be very patient if growing juniper from seeds, my seeds took a whole year to germinate.

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Mordants introduction, or
Mordanting Cotton, or
Mordanting Silk
Mordanting Wool
 

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Last updated on 29 December 2011
Website and photos by Mike Roberts      © 2006-12 Wild Colours Natural Dyes