How to Grow Isatis Plants
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Woad and Glastum in your Garden
Isatis is a genus of plants that are grown as hardy bulbs in the garden.
Isatis blooms in the summer with small yellow panicles and may reach a height of 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) in height.
Some of the common names for Isatis are Woad and Dyer's woad.
It has been traditionally used to produce dye and paint.
Isatis tinctoria - Dyer's Woad by Matt Lavin.
Woad by peganum.
Isatis Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Woad, Dyer’s Woad, Asp of Jerusalem, Glastum.
Life Cycle: Hardy biennial.
Height: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm).
Native: Mediterranean, Western and Central Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10.
Flower Details: Yellow. Small. Umbels.
Foliage: Elliptic.
Sow Inside: Germination time: two weeks to two months. Temperature: 50°F (10°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors before the last frost.
Miscellaneous: Was used by the Celts to produce blue war paint. Considered an invasive weed in many areas. Used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of the flu, measles and scarlet fever, amongst others.
How to Grow Woad and other Isatis Plants in the Garden
Woad should be grown outdoors from seeds. The Woad seeds should be sown out in the latter part of summer and lightly covered.
It can take from two to seven weeks for woad to germinate.
They should be planted in a sunny or partially shaded part of the garden into a rich, moist soil that has good drainage. Once the seedlings have emerged thin them out so that they are about 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) apart.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Isatis plants. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Lobelia, Lapeirousia plant, and Mustard plants.
If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.
Genus Index I
