Woad
ExplorePlants
Woad
Isatis L.
Woad is a plant known for its brilliant blue dye. People have used it for coloring fabrics for a long time. The leaves of the woad plant are harvested to create the dye.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Woad is a tall, erect plant with distinct bluish-green leaves. Its small, four-petaled flowers are a vibrant bright yellow, growing in dense clusters at the top of its stems, creating a striking contrast against its foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusIsatis
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Before indigo, woad was Europe's main source for blue dye, coloring royal clothing!
Making woad dye involves a stinky fermentation process, like brewing a potent, bubbly tea!
Woad seeds can stay alive in the soil for years, waiting for the perfect moment to sprout!
Woad was so valuable that special 'woad mills' processed its leaves into blue dye!
Special abilities
Ability
Dye Master
Woad can create a vibrant blue pigment that helps humans color textiles and inks for centuries.
Ability
Resilient Pioneer
Woad can thrive in disturbed soils and roadside edges, helping it colonize new, open areas effectively.
Ability
Medicinal Maker
Woad has compounds used in traditional medicine, helping people treat various ailments and infections.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits its bright yellow flowers for nectar.
eaten by
Small white butterfly
Pieris rapae
Its caterpillars feed on the plant's leaves.
eaten by
Diamondback moth
Plutella xylostella
Larvae are a common pest of woad.
Traits
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Dye
This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Also known as
IsatisIsatis tinctoria
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Avoid touching or consuming woad plants without adult supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Woad?
30-150 cm
How wide does Woad spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Woad?
0.3-0.5 cm
When does Woad bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is Woad edible?
Yes
Is Woad toxic?
Mild
What is Woad's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is Woad pollinated?
Insect
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