My Experiments with Black Hollyhock Dye

If you're on the journey of experimenting with botanical dyes, you're in for a treat with black hollyhocks. These towering garden beauties not only add charm to your garden but also offer a vibrant array of colors for your fabric dyeing projects. Today, I'll share my firsthand experience of dyeing with black hollyhocks using four different methods.

Why Hollyhocks?

I stumbled upon hollyhocks a few years ago while researching dye plants. Their towering presence over 7 feet tall, coupled with their stunning black blooms, intrigued me. The idea of extracting such vivid dye from these flowers was irresistible.

My Four Methods of Dyeing with Hollyhocks

Here's a step-by-step recount of my attempts to dye fabric naturally with hollyhocks, in four different ways. Spoiler: The results were as varied as the techniques!

Method 1: Mortar and Pestle (No Heat)

Process: On a hot summer day, I decided to crush fresh hollyhock petals using a mortar and pestle, adding a bit of water to create a thick, vibrant purple paste. I wanted to try a no-heat method as it was almost 100 degrees outside. I soaked my fabric in this paste, achieving an initial deep indigo blue color.

Results: The indigo blue faded to a lovely blue after a few days, as I did not use a mordant. The initial color was bold, but it didn’t last.

Method 2: Mortar and Pestle with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Process: Intrigued by the impact of pH on dye color, I added baking soda to one batch and apple cider vinegar to another. I repeated the mortar and pestle method and soaked the fabrics in these mixtures.

Results: The baking soda resulted in a soft pale blue, while the vinegar mixture initially produced a bright magenta that dried to a similar medium blue to my first experiment.

Method 3: Boiling with an Aluminium Pot

Process: Once the heatwave passed, I boiled hollyhock petals in an aluminium stock pot for an hour, adding a few tablespoons of baking soda. I hoped the pot would act as a mordant, helping the dye to brighten up.

I first heard about the pot-as-mordant technique from Rebecca Desnos, and this was my first time working with this process. I got this 1950's aluminium pot second hand and it will be used only for dye projects.

Results: After about 12 hours, the dye bath turned brown and imparted only faint beige coloring with green undertones to the fabric. Green is one of my favorite colors, but it came out so light that it’s hard to pick up on the camera and the shirt looks dirty rather than dyed.

Method 4: Mortar and Pestle Meets Hot Water and Aluminium Pot

Process: Combining the best of both worlds, I ground hollyhock petals with hot water and poured the mixture over a new t-shirt in the aluminum pot. I left it to soak in the sun for 2 hours before bringing it indoors.

Results: This method yielded the best color, maintaining a vivid quality that lasted longer. The aluminium pot seemed to enhance the dye's adherence to the fabric without boiling away the petal’s true color.

Conclusion: The Best Way to Dye with Hollyhocks

After these experiments, I've found that for rich, vibrant color, grinding petals with water and soaking in an aluminium pot works best.

I think that while heat is key to extracting the dye, that I might have had my original pot-as-mordant experiment get too hot. If I try this again, I'll keep the heat low and make sure it doesn't boil.

The aluminium in the pot helps the dye bond with the fabric, as alum would. For subtler shades, the mortar and pestle method with baking soda and no heat seems to hold some promise.

Final Thoughts

Dyeing with hollyhocks has been a colorful adventure, full of surprises and learning moments. Whether you're a seasoned dyer or a curious newbie, I encourage you to give it a try. Nature has a beautiful palette just waiting to be explored!

Black Hollyhock Natural Dye FAQ

Which variety of Black Hollyhock is best for botanical dye projects?

I have two varieties of black hollyhock planted, and as you can see from the photo above, one is more of a deep burgundy while the other is a deep purple color.

I’d imagine that the deep burgundy variety (Black Hollyhock from Wild Garden Seeds via Experimental Farm Network) would lend itself well to making pinks when mixed with vinegar.

The flowers closer to purple are the Blacknight variety, from Swallowtail Garden Seeds. This is what I’ve been using for my dye experiments.

The burgundy flowers seem to give the same color as the purple ones when I rub them.

What kinds of black hollyhocks are out there?

Double: I’m hoping that one day these double black hollyhocks come back in stock at Grand Prismatic Seeds!

Blacknight: This is the kind I’ve been experimenting with, it’s the closest to black that I’ve seen!

Black Hollyhock: A deep burgundy

Black WatchmanBlack Watchman: Seem to be a darker shade of burgundy than Black Hollyhock

Black WatchmanBlack Watchman: Seem to be a darker shade of burgundy than Black Hollyhock

Jet Black: Look very deep purple in photos, but I haven’t experimented with this variety yet!

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