Sunflower, Hopi Black Dye (Helianthus annuus), packet of 30 seeds, organic

(1 customer review)

$2.95

Family:  Aster (Asteracea)

Annual.  90-100 days to maturity.

(Hopi Black Dye Sunflower, Traditional Oil Sunflower) The plants are sturdy of stem, polyheaded, and consistently dark black of seed.  The ray flowers are golden yellow.  The seeds are used by Native Americans for dyeing wool and basketry.  Imparts a color-fast light purple.  Heirloom variety from Hopi Land, an oil, food, and dye plant that has its roots in ancient prehistory.  One of the first domesticated plants, archaeological evidence points to the middle archaic period for the first human harboring of sunflower.  The black seeded sunflowers are generally considered to be best for oil.  We recommend direct-seeding in the spring.  Plant a bit close at first, protect from crows, and eat the sprouts.  Thin to 2 feet apart.

30 seeds/pkt, certified organically grown

In stock

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5 out of 5 stars

1 review

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What others are saying

  1. Laura Meyer

    Lovely!

    Laura Meyer

    I have yet to make dye, but I was able to gather a good amount of seed despite a very wet and challenging season. The flowers themselves were delightful friends in the garden, towering above all non-winged creatures.

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    • Sarah Carson

      I made dye with vinegar and rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol works best over masticated seed hulls. I didn’t use it as a dye but an ink/ paint. I allowed it to evaporate down in the sun, then added honey and gum arabic to create a thickened paint. It worked really well. Good luck!

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  2. Question

    Sara Meadows

    Can the seeds be used to make food dye?

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  3. Question

    Sarah

    Are the seeds safe for chickens to eat?

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  4. One person found this helpful

    Flowered in Kyoto, Japan

    Kurou Suehisa (verified owner)

    It’s nice. Beautiful dark yellow. Grows robustly even in a small pot, but needs depth more than 20cm.

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  5. 2 out of 2 people found this helpful

    Hopi Black Dye Sunflower in Kyoto, Japan

    Suehisa Kurou (verified owner)

    This cultivar is nice to plant. Germinated well nearly 100% and grows robustly adapting to Japanese common soil. The photoed one became taller than 2m high even in a pot of 40cm diameter. Neither disease nor pest damage. Flower is beautiful dark yellow. I’m looking forward to dyeing my shirts with the seeds as Hopi People do.

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    • Admin Richo Cech

      Very nice. It is a little miracle. Richo

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    • Rachel

      I’ll be making some oil with a manual oil press soon. I’m excited ! But removing the seeds from the seed heads is very tedious.

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Rachel, I suppose there are 2 options. One is to grind the entire nut with shell and extract by boiling, which is the native way, the other is to purchase some equipment to shell the seeds and then use your oil press. Certainly you are right large amounts of seed would take forever to shell by hand. r

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    • Anon

      I assume the birds enjoy the dried seed heads like other sunflowers, yes?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Yes, and if you want to keep some seeds for yourself, you can put a disposble hairnet over the seedhead when the inflorescence starts to fall away. r

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