Weld (Reseda luteola) also known as dyer’s rocket, has a tall spire of yellow green flowers, the spikes of small flowers are an excellent source of pollen and nectar for butterflies and bees. Weld is a robust version of wild mignonette but with dark green leaves. The flowers reach up to 4 – 6 mm in width and seeds ripen from August to September. They are a great way to attract wildlife, bees, butterflies and other insects.Weld flowers are also known to attract cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys as they like to eat the leaves.
It was grown commercially for its strong yellow dye and this greatly extended its range It can now be found on marginal land with neutral to calcareous soils such as roadsides, building sites, gravel pits, quarries and brick yards. Although this plant isnt one of the more attravtive flowers out there it is one of the more fragrant plants, with its sweet scent the flowers are typically used in flower arrangements and potpurri where as the oil is used in perfumes. The dye from ths plant is the oldest in the world alongside chamomile, madder and woad. The famous medieval colours, Saxon green and Lincoln green, were produced by over-dying weld yellow with woad blue and Lincoln green was the colour of the clothing of Robin Hood’s men.
Height: 60 – 120cm
Flowering Time: June to September
Preferred Conditions: This plant will grow on neutral to calcareous soils in areas such as roadsides and quarries
.Reseda prefers moist, rich soil that leans toward the alkaline end of the scale and a sunny to dappled shade area of the garden. It prefers some shade in areas where summers are long and hot.
