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Rubia tinctorum

Common name: Madder Family: Rubiaceae
Author: L. Botanical references: 200
Synonyms:  
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain[17].
Habitat: Neglected ground, hedgerows and among rubble[7].
Edibility Rating (1-5): 0Medicinal Rating (1-5):2

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
R. tinctoria[B,P]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Boyacikoku [E], Dyer's Madder [H], Madder [H,B,P,E], Meekrap [D], Rubia [E], Seiyo-Akane [E],
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Rubiales. Madder family
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
Europe; Spain; Turkey; Ussr

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen perennial growing to 1m by 1m at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 6. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedgerow, Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Aperient; Astringent; Cholagogue; Diuretic; Emmenagogue.

The root is aperient, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic and emmenagogue[4, 7, 21]. It is taken internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder stones[238]. The root is seldom used in herbal medicine but is said to be effective in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dropsy and jaundice[4]. The roots are harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 3 years old. They are peeled and then dried[238].
When taken internally the root imparts a red colour to the milk, urine and bones, especially the bones of young animals, and it is used in osteopathic investigations[4, 200].

Other Uses

Dye; Polish.

A very good quality red dye is obtained from the roots. Some reports say that 2 year old roots are used in the spring and autumn[61, 200, 238] whilst others say that 3 year old roots are used[169, 171]. The roots can be dried for later use[169]. The dye can also be extracted from the leaves[169]. This dye is also used medicinally[200].
The leaves and stem are prickly, the whorls of leaves having spines along the midrib on the underside[4]. This feature enables them to be used for polishing metalwork[4, 148].

Cultivation details

Prefers a light sandy soil in full sun[14]. Plants grown in fertile well-limed soils produce more pigment in the root[169].
This plant was at one time widely cultivated for the red dye obtained from its roots, this dye is now manufactured chemically[200]. However, it is still cultivated in Europe as a medicinal dye plant.
The plant produces many side roots that can travel just under the surface of the soil for some distance before sending up new shoots[4].
This species is closely related to R. peregrina[4].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate[200]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

References for Rubia tinctoria (a possible synonym). References for rubia tinctorum (a possible synonym).

References for the family Rubiaceae.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[14] Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
A good herbal.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[148] Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970
A pleasant little book about Greek herbs.

[169] Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.

[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
  Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Rubia+tinctorum
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