Polygonum tinctorum
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| Polygonum tinctorum L. |
Polygonum tinctorum is Chinese indigo, a plant of the Buckwheat family that is found from Eastern Europe to East Asia, and whose leaves were the source of blue dye called Indigo dye, which is made from the leaves. This plant will grow in sandy, loamy and heavy clay soils, and is pH tolerant, growing well in acid and alkaline soils.
It was already in use in the Western Zhou period (ca. 1045-771 B.C.), and was the most important blue dye in East Asia until the arrival of Indigofera from the south.
This plant was commonly called "Dyer's Knotweed."
