# Madder (*Rubia L.*)

Madder is a plant with small, star-shaped flowers that can be used to make red dye. It grows low to the ground and is loved by butterflies for its sweet nectar.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Desert
- **Also known as:** Dye Plant, Rubia

![Madder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rubia_cordifolia.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubia_cordifolia.jpg)

## Appearance

The Madder is a scrambling plant with rough, lance-shaped leaves arranged in whorls around square stems. It produces tiny, star-shaped, greenish-yellow flowers in summer, followed by small black berries. Its stems and leaves are covered in hooked prickles, helping it cling and climb.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Gentianales
- **Family:** Rubiaceae
- **Genus:** Rubia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Egyptians used madder to dye mummy wrappings a deep reddish-brown color!
- Madder berries turn a dark, shiny black, looking like tiny beads on the plant!
- Roman soldiers would sometimes color their cloaks with madder dye to show their rank.
- The bright red dye from madder was once more valuable than gold in some places!

## Special abilities

- **Dye Master:** Madder has special chemicals in its roots that create vibrant red and orange dyes used to color fabrics for thousands of years.
- **Climbing Hooks:** Its square stems and rough leaves have tiny, hooked prickles that help it scramble over other plants to reach sunlight.
- **Water Seeker:** Madder can grow deep roots that help it find and absorb water even in dry, rocky soils where other plants struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps madder flowers make seeds.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Feeds on madder's small black berries, spreading seeds.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Enjoy looking at madder plants, but avoid picking or eating them as some parts may be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Madder?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Madder?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Madder spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Madder?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Madder bloom?

Summer

### Is Madder edible?

No

### Is Madder toxic?

Mild

### What is Madder's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wangeliner Garten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wangeliner-garten) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Madder: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/madder)