Dyer’s Madder

A source of red dyes known as “rose madder” and “Turkish red,” madder root contains the anthraquinone pigment alizarin, which is responsible for its popularity as a fine red dye plant. The English “red coats” owed their visibility to this plant. Madder is also a food plant for the larvae of the hummingbird hawk moth. This plant is a classic element of the Medieval European garden, completely unique, winding its way along the ground or draping on a fence or trellis.