Buckthorn Seed Powder

Buckthorn Natural Dye (Rhamnus)

Rich golden hues from a timeless natural source

What is Buckthorn?

Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.) is a traditional natural dye plant that has been used for centuries across Europe, Asia, and North America. Belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, this resilient plant yields beautiful warm yellows, mustard tones, and olive greens depending on the mordant and pH used during dyeing.

One of the most common dye species is Rhamnus cathartica, or Common Buckthorn, known for its thorny branches, small greenish flowers, and dark berries rich in pigment. Dyes can be extracted from its berries, bark, or leaves, giving a versatile range of shades.

Color Range & Application

Buckthorn can produce:

• Golden yellow (with alum)

• Mustard or olive green (with iron)

• Darker brownish tones (with high pH + iron)

It is especially valued for its excellent lightfastness, making it ideal for long-lasting textile work.

This dye works beautifully on cotton, linen, wool, and silk. Each fiber interacts uniquely, adding depth and variety to the final shades.

Dyeing Instructions (Basics)

• Soak or boil buckthorn plant material in water (or alkaline solution) to extract the pigment.

• Mordant your fibers with alum, oak gall tannin, or iron for color variations.

• Modify pH or use iron dips to shift from yellow to greenish-browns.

Experimentation is key — pH shifts and fiber types create stunning results!

Customer Review: Charlotte Treglown (UK)

“I used Themazi’s buckthorn seed dye on cotton and wool. I mordanted my cotton with their oak gall tannin, followed by alum and soda ash. The wool fabric was mordanted with alum. The buckthorn gave me beautiful golden yellows, which I modified to olive greens with iron. I also achieved mustard and brown-green tones with soda ash and iron. I was delighted by the richness and strength of the colors.”

Charlotte specializes in natural dyeing and eco-printing, working with recycled textiles to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

🌱Sustainable & Responsible

As with all wild-sourced dye plants, we encourage responsible harvesting and ethical sourcing. Our buckthorn powder is prepared with respect for the ecosystem and fair-trade standards.

Fast Worldwide Shipping

We ship globally with express options.

Delivery in 2–5 business days to most countries.