Dyer's greenweed

Dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria) is a plant that is related to broom and is found in England and Wales but only rarely in Scotland. It prefers clay and chalky soils and in often found in grassy places.

It comprises a small shrub that grows up to 28 inches (70 centimetres) in height. It has smooth green stems from which the leaves, which are discarded in winter, grow directly. Unlike some other brooms, dyer’s greenweed does not have spines.

The plant flowers from July to September, the flowers forming bright yellow spikes at the ends of the stems. Brooms are members of the pea family, and this is especially noticeable from the long pods that contain the seeds. When the seeds are ripe, the pods twist open suddenly and the seeds are ejected.

The name comes from the fact that a yellow dye can be prepared from the flowering stems. In the 14^th century, immigrant Flemish weavers used the dye in combination with blue woad to produce green-coloured cloth. This was traditionally done in the Lake District, where the resultant colour was known as Kendal green.

© John Welford