Gypsywort

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Perennial

Native distribution

Europe to NW. Asia

Biocultural value

Leaves yield a permanent black dye on wool and silk. It was also formerly used by gypsies to darken their skin.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Richters

Description

Stems 20-120 cm tall, sparsely to densely hariy, branches ascending. Leaves 3-10 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, ovate-lanceolate or elliptical, pinnatifid or pinnatisect at the base, reducing to lobed or toothed at the apex, the upper leaves less divided or lobed. Corolla white with a few small purple dots.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

other ethnobotanical uses