Natural Dye Gardens in North America

With the development of the synthetic dyes, the market for natural dyes collapsed. However, growing alarm about climate change leads to a growing number of people exploring the potential of plant-based natural dyes. A dynamic culture of dye gardens developed with the aim to test the viability of historically recognized dye plants, to educate people about nature, and to create apparel products and household textile goods. Based on an extensive survey, the current activities in natural dye gardens in North America are presented, including motivation of their owners, requests for educational activities, and a collection of the most relevant dye plants cultivated. Selected representatives are discussed in detail, including chemical structures where available.