Hey everyone! So, I was strolling through a local nature reserve, and I stumbled upon a plant called alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). I did a bit of research and learned that it's often used in natural dyes and has interesting properties. But here's the thing-I'm really curious about its potential uses in the home garden, especially for more sustainable practices. Has anyone experimented with alder buckthorn as a natural dye source for textiles or other crafts at home? I’d love to hear about your dyeing processes and results! Besides its dye properties, does alder buckthorn offer any benefits when planted in a garden, like as part of a permaculture setup? I've read it's wildlife-friendly, particularly for butterflies and bees, but are there other ecological benefits? Are there any considerations I should keep in mind if I decide to introduce this plant into my garden, such as invasiveness or soil requirements? I'm eager to learn and maybe try some new sustainable gardening techniques. Thanks in advance for any ideas and advice you can share! 🌿💡

For dye: unripe berries make the classic “sap green” (alum-mordanted wool/silk, gentle 60-70°C simmer 30-45 min). Shift with a pinch of soda (greener) or a rusted-iron dip (olive). Bark gives soft yellows/tans. Heads-up: sap green is only moderate lightfast-great for seasonal textiles; for long-lasting greens I over-dye weld or goldenrod with indigo. Ecology: in its native range it’s a brimstone butterfly larval host and a long, steady nectar source; birds love the berries. It thrives in wet, acidic spots and partial shade, so it’s fab for rain gardens/woodland edges and coppices well for structure/habitat. Big caveat: under the name “glossy buckthorn” (Frangula alnus) it’s invasive in much of North America and often regulated/illegal to plant; it also hosts oat crown rust near grain fields. If you’re in NA, consider natives like Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), or just grow dye workhorses (weld, goldenrod, coreopsis) and pair with indigo for greens. Practical notes: prefers moist, acidic soil; not drought-hardy; no nitrogen fixation despite the “alder” name. Wear gloves-the bark/berries are laxative; don’t use your cooking pots. If already growing it where native, clip fruit before ripening to limit spread.

A couple extra bits that might help: For dye: pick the green, unripe berries for the clearest sap green. A simple solar jar works (berries + water on a sunny windowsill 2-3 days), then strain, add a pinch of soda ash for a brighter green, and paint a test strip you can tape to a window to check lightfastness. If you want something a tad more durable for art, make a lake pigment: dye liquor + alum, then add chalk (calcium carbonate) to precipitate, rinse, dry, and mull with gum arabic. Garden fit: it handles soggy, acidic corners and partial shade, so it’s handy in a rain-garden/woodland edge. You can coppice on a short cycle to get plenty of small stems for craft/dye and create dense bird/bug habitat. If you do grow it, deadhead or clip fruit clusters early to prevent spread. Cautions: it’s invasive in much of North America and an alternate host of oat crown rust-skip it if anyone nearby grows small grains. If you harvest berries for dye, freeze or boil them first and dispose of leftovers in the trash or a hot compost to avoid spreading viable seed. If you’re set on trying it, keep it in a large container as a test before planting out.

Alder Buckthorn

vinevictorvince

Hey everyone!

So, I was strolling through a local nature reserve, and I stumbled upon a plant called alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). I did a bit of research and learned that it's often used in natural dyes and has interesting properties. But here's the thing-I'm really curious about its potential uses in the home garden, especially for more sustainable practices.

Has anyone experimented with alder buckthorn as a natural dye source for textiles or other crafts at home? I’d love to hear about your dyeing processes and results!
Besides its dye properties, does alder buckthorn offer any benefits when planted in a garden, like as part of a permaculture setup? I've read it's wildlife-friendly, particularly for butterflies and bees, but are there other ecological benefits?
Are there any considerations I should keep in mind if I decide to introduce this plant into my garden, such as invasiveness or soil requirements?

I'm eager to learn and maybe try some new sustainable gardening techniques. Thanks in advance for any ideas and advice you can share! 🌿💡

MulchMaster

For dye: unripe berries make the classic “sap green” (alum-mordanted wool/silk, gentle 60-70°C simmer 30-45 min). Shift with a pinch of soda (greener) or a rusted-iron dip (olive). Bark gives soft yellows/tans. Heads-up: sap green is only moderate lightfast-great for seasonal textiles; for long-lasting greens I over-dye weld or goldenrod with indigo.
Ecology: in its native range it’s a brimstone butterfly larval host and a long, steady nectar source; birds love the berries. It thrives in wet, acidic spots and partial shade, so it’s fab for rain gardens/woodland edges and coppices well for structure/habitat.
Big caveat: under the name “glossy buckthorn” (Frangula alnus) it’s invasive in much of North America and often regulated/illegal to plant; it also hosts oat crown rust near grain fields. If you’re in NA, consider natives like Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), or just grow dye workhorses (weld, goldenrod, coreopsis) and pair with indigo for greens.
Practical notes: prefers moist, acidic soil; not drought-hardy; no nitrogen fixation despite the “alder” name. Wear gloves-the bark/berries are laxative; don’t use your cooking pots. If already growing it where native, clip fruit before ripening to limit spread.

bloomingbeauty

A couple extra bits that might help:

For dye: pick the green, unripe berries for the clearest sap green. A simple solar jar works (berries + water on a sunny windowsill 2-3 days), then strain, add a pinch of soda ash for a brighter green, and paint a test strip you can tape to a window to check lightfastness. If you want something a tad more durable for art, make a lake pigment: dye liquor + alum, then add chalk (calcium carbonate) to precipitate, rinse, dry, and mull with gum arabic.
Garden fit: it handles soggy, acidic corners and partial shade, so it’s handy in a rain-garden/woodland edge. You can coppice on a short cycle to get plenty of small stems for craft/dye and create dense bird/bug habitat. If you do grow it, deadhead or clip fruit clusters early to prevent spread.
Cautions: it’s invasive in much of North America and an alternate host of oat crown rust-skip it if anyone nearby grows small grains. If you harvest berries for dye, freeze or boil them first and dispose of leftovers in the trash or a hot compost to avoid spreading viable seed. If you’re set on trying it, keep it in a large container as a test before planting out.