Flowers are embodied sunshine, and sometimes that sunshine can be harvested in the form of a golden-orange dye. Native to plains and meadows of North America, Dyer’s Coreopsis has long been used by textile artists for its richly pigmented petals. Easy-to-grow and produces a plethora of cadmium red blossoms, sometimes ringed with yellow. Our strain has a higher proportion of solid red blooms than most. Also wonderful as an ornamental alone. Try making your own solar dye at home using handkerchiefs, napkins, or pillowcases: Measuring twice the weight of fabric to blooms, pour boiling water over your flowers and steep the fabric for up to one week in the sun.
From Hudson Valley Seed Company, who sell and grow only non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds in artist-designed seed packets. Each seed packet comes with detailed instructions for sowing and growing, as well as history, lore, and stories about the variety and the artist.