Reseda luteola
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RESS-eh-da loo-tee-OH-la
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Reseda
- Species:
- luteola
- Family:
- Resedaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This plant is used to produce a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of 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.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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 To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves (and stems) are the source of the dye.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived
- Weedy
