Originally I harvested locally - Smart & Final parking lot (west l.a.), patch that grew near Sunset & Veteran, Exposition train tracks and Topanga canyon. Last year I finally transplanted some "freeway fennel" to my garden and it seems to be doing quite well. Based on some weed databases I believe its "Foeniculum vulgare" or "Sweet Fennel". Up to now I have used it fresh but I'm planning to try some dried in the next couple of weeks and see how that compares.

Tried a light fastness test last summer and it seems to hold up pretty well. Since I'm using it on wool I tend to wash gently. I do pre-Alum and sometimes use an alkaline after-bath. The biggest limitation with Fennel is that it does not seem to work well with cotton. I've been using it exclusively on wool and for cotton trying Oxylis when I have enough available. (Since I don't work with silk I can't say how that would turn out.) Limitations aside Fennel is available locally and seems easy to grow.

I haven't compared Fennel to Weld other than what I can see in dye books, such as Buchanan's Dyer's Garden. Based on the pictures the Weld may be brighter, and probably a better choice if available. I'm still trying to get some going in pots. I guess descriptions/warnings made it sound as if the Weld/Woad combination would eat up the yard. So far I have tiny plants about 1" diameter. Will see what comes of it.


Are you dying with fresh Woad?