Fresh Hollyhock blossoms will produce a rusty red dye. Dye Bed This site lists a number of flowering plants that can be used for dyeing. Mordant Colour Alum pinks Alum/Tin blue Iron taupe Blue vitriol light green Different coloured blossoms will yield different colours. How to Dye with Hollyhocks A recipe using Hollyhock blossoms. Gardenbed In addition to making a dye, Hollyhock can also be used for paper-making. Harvest the stems late in the summer. Remove the leaves, and steam the stems until soft. Remove the fibre and cook with lye. Pound the pulp for 3 hours. Native Traditional Foods Hollyhocks were used by the Cree as a natural chewing gum. There are also several recipes that feature the use of native plants. Hollyhocks are also natural deer deterents.

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