Weld Seeds

Common Names
Weld, Dyer’s Weld, Dyer’s Weed, Dyer’s Rocket

Botanical Name
Reseda luteola

Plant Family
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

Native Range
Europe, Western Asia

Life Cycle
Biennial/Perennial

Hardiness Zone
5-9

Habit
Produces a low basal rosette of slender leaves in the first year, about 1ft wide. Weld sends up tall flowering stalks in the first or second year, that can reach 4 or 5 feet high.

Sun/Soil
Full sun to part shade. Not fussy about soil.

Germination/Sowing
The seeds germinate easily and can be direct sown in spring or fall, or sown in flats in the spring and then transplanted out once they are big enough.

Growing/Care
The seedlings are fast growing and care should be taken to transplant them into larger pots, or directly into the garden, so that they don’t become stunted in a too small container. Crowding and stunting of plants in their pots, can cause them to bolt (prematurely go to flower and seed).

Harvesting
The aerial parts are harvested for use once the stalks are in full flower or seed.

Culinary Uses
N/A

Medicinal Uses
Weld is not commonly used in modern herbal medicine but appears to be non-toxic and has been used as a mild narcotic and diuretic in the past.

Other Uses
The leaves and flowers are used to make a bright yellow colour-fast pigment that is used both in textile dying and as a paint pigment. It is commonly mixed with Woad (Isatis tinctoria) to produce different shades of green pigment.

Themes
Apothecary Garden, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Attracts Pollinators, Dye Plant.