Plant Details

Genista tinctoria

Dyer’s Greenweed

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Genista tinctoria.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

29 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Dyer's Greenweed[1]
  • Dyer’s Greenweed
Other languages (23)
Dutch
French
  • Genêt des teinturiers[1]
Arabic
  • جينيستا صبغية[1]
Belarusian
  • Жаўтазель фарбавальны[1]
Catalan
  • ginesta de tintorers[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • kručinka barvířská[1]
Danish
  • Farve-visse[1]
Finnish
  • pensasväriherne[1]
German
  • Färber-Ginster[1]
Hungarian
  • festő rekettye[1]
Italian
  • Bacellina[1]
  • Ginestra dei tintori[1]
  • Ginestra minore[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Ginestrella[1]
Japanese
  • ヒトツバエニシダ[1]
Norwegian
  • fargeginst[1]
Polish
  • Janowiec barwierski[1]
Russian
  • Дрок красильный[1]
Slovak
  • kručinka farbiarska[1]
Slovenian
  • barvilna košeničica[1]
Swedish
  • färgginst[1]
Turkish
  • Boyacı Katırtırnağı[1]
  • Boyacı Tırnağı[1]
Ukrainian
  • Дрік красильний[1]
Welsh
  • Melynog y waun[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Genista tinctoria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Dyer's Greenweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Дрок красильный — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Färber-Ginster — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Genêt des teinturiers — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • kručinka barvířská — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Farve-visse — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • fargeginst — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • pensasväriherne — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • ヒトツバエニシダ — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Verfbrem — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • 染料木 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • färgginst — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Janowiec barwierski — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Жаўтазель фарбавальны — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Дрік красильний — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • barvilna košeničica — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • جينيستا صبغية — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • festő rekettye — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • kručinka farbiarska — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Ginestra minore — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Ginestra dei tintori — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Ginestrella — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Bacellina — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • ginesta de tintorers — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Melynog y waun — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • 染料木 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Boyacı Tırnağı — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.
  • Boyacı Katırtırnağı — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 163222; Genista tinctoria.

General information

Scientific name: Genista tinctoria
Accepted name (Kew): Genista tinctoria L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Genista (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Dyer’s Greenweed
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Coffee
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Fibre, Bee forage, Ground cover

Description

Seed: The seed is considered a possible substitute for coffee. Flower buds: These can be pickled and serve as an alternative to capers. Additionally, the flower buds are also used as a vegetable.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 808418; name ID 2818992; Genista L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1396541; name ID 2819641; Genista tinctoria L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Genista tinctoria

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 255412, ID 3FLDY: Genista tinctoria L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Genista tinctoria — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .