Poplar bark offers a warm and earthy palette, producing shades of soft browns and subtle oranges. It is a straightforward dye plant to work with: rich in tannins, it colours fibres well even without a mordant, though alum will bring out brighter and more saturated tones. Like many barks, it rewards patience and gentle handling.

Historical Note
Poplars were valued throughout Europe as fast-growing, useful trees for timber, carving, and fuel. Their bark also found a place in rural dye traditions, where it provided steady, reliable colour. While never a “luxury dye,” poplar was a practical, local source for earthy browns and orange hues, especially for yarns and everyday cloth.

Source
Our poplar bark comes from a sustainable, renewable source in Europe.

Active Coloring Compounds Primarily tannins and flavonoids.

CI Colour Name
Closest family: CI Natural Brown 9 / Natural Orange 4 (approximate alignment within natural dye classifications).

Shading Tips

• No mordant → soft browns
• Alum → warmer oranges and brighter browns
• Iron (optional) → cooler, deeper shades (grey-brown tones)