Isatis tinctoria
Jekkapedia
Isatis tinctoria, Woad
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Isatis
Clusters of numerous small bright yellow, sweetly scented, flowers in second season followed by pendulous brown/black seeds. Lance shaped, lightly toothed, blue/green leaves. Blue dye plant. Chinese Medicinal herb.
Characteristics:
• Hardiness: H4 (-5 to -10C)
• Type: Perennial
• Height: up to 1.3m
• Spread: 45cm
Woad can be seen at the herb farm in Jekka’s Herbetum and is available to buy as both herb plants and online as herb seeds.
Details
• Aspect: Sun
• Soil type: Light Loam, Free Draining
• pH: Neutral – Alkaline pH
• Habit: Upright
• Flowering colour: Yellow
• Flowering time: Summer
• Uses: Medicinal (Read Jekka’s Guide To Medicinal Herbs for more information)
• Attracts pollinators: Yes (Read Jekka’s Guide to Pollinators for more information)
• Container suitability: No
• UK native: No
• Caution: Do not take Medicinally unless under supervision.
Growing
• Grown from seed:
• Indoor Sowing: In spring, into prepared plug trays or pots. Sow one seed per plug, 3 seeds per small pot, cover with perlite.
• Outdoor Sowing: In early summer, light, well-drained soil in sun. Thin to 45cm apart.
• Propagation: N/A
• Maintenance: (See Jekka’s Blogs on Early Spring, Late Spring, Summer and Autumn maintenance)
• Harvest: N/A
Available as
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