Weld is a biennial in the mignonette family (Resedaceae) native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa but naturalized in North and South America and Australia (where it is classified as invasive). The plant is weedy but widely grown for its fragrant flowers and as a dye plant. The species epithet is Latin for "yellowish" and refers to the dye extracted from the vegetative parts. Weld is easy to grow, requiring full sun or very light shade. It tolerates loamy, sandy, or rocky soils and thrives in poor soils. It dislikes heavy clay. It needs no application of fertilizer. The plant is propagated by seeds, which should be sown in the place they are to grow; they resent transplanting. Weld forms a rosette in the first year and flowers, fruits and dies in the second year. It sometimes behaves as an annual and flowers in the first year. Seeds require light for germination. Although it will never win any prizes for beauty, weld is one of the best dye plants. This is a good plant for out-of-the-way places in the garden, in dry, sunny spots. The plant can become weedy if the habitat is to its liking, so consider carefully before introducing this plant to your garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: none.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves (and stems) are the source of the dye.
Flower color
Green; Insignificant
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are small and not especially showy, but a large group of them can be attractive. They have three or four petals, divided into finger-like lobes, and many stamens.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, western Asia and North Africa
Distribution
Australia, southern Mexico, Argentina, USA, incl. WA, CA, CO, IA, PA, IL, IN, MO, OH, MD, DE, NY, CT, MA
Wildlife value
Weld will attract and host cabbage white butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Easy to Grow; Fragrance
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
This plant is used to produce a yellow dye.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden