Sunflower dye

Lithograph of Sunflower
MFA# 2002.18680

Description

A natural yellow dye obtained from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) blooms. Sunflowers produce a bright yellow dye in alkaline solutions that is not lightfast. In acetic acid solutions, however, sunflowers give a colorfast golden color on wool with an alum mordant. The seeds of the sunflower plant were also used by native Americans to produce a dark purple color used for dyeing baskets.

Synonyms and Related Terms

silk dyed with sunflower petals in Visible light

Helianthus annuus; colorant à base de tournesol (Fr.); girasol (Esp.);

silk dyed with sunflower petals in UV light

Resources and Citations

• D. Cardon, Natural Dyes: Sources, Tradition, Technology and Science (original edition Le Monde des teintures naturelles), Archetype Publications, Ltd., London, 2007
• R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968
• Economic Botany: Expressing Achenes purple dye from seeds [Accessed Jan. 21, 2009]
• The Plant Lady: select Natural Dye Table
• Wikipedia: Helianthus Accessed May 2026