Oregon Grape Plant: Yellow and Purple Dyes

The Native Northwest people used the Oregon Grape plant to create bright yellow dyes and a variety of medicines. The yellow dye is created from the plant’s inner bark and roots. It creates yellow flowers in the spring and purple berries in the summer. The berries produce a purple dye (although it’s not known for its stability). 

This spring, I drew an Oregon Grape plant. (These plants grow all over the place in the Puget Sound area.) 

Resources: National Wildlife Federation and Mother Earth Living