Eucalyptus Camaldulensis

Red gums are a wonderful part of the Australian experience. Dotted around South Perth, they were an easy pick for a eucalypt dye source. For the leaves, I walked around different areas in the city and found freshly fallen branches with green leaves. Careful of spiders, I disconnected the leaves, buds, and stems. 

I chucked the buds in their own jar with methylated spirits and hoped for the best but they didn't produce enough colour to dye with. 

The leaves on the other hand I knew would dye, as I have read up on gums as natural dye sources. Each Eucalypt's leaves and barks dye different shades so I was excited to see how the red gum foliage I collected would go. Please check out Sally Blake's research for ALL the eucalypts in all of their glory!!!!

I adopted the same method as with the barks, bringing the leaves and water to the boil, adding the linen, cooling over night and then sitting in a jar for 3 days. 

Pre-wash the fabric was a soft grey. Post-wash it is a little more beige than grey but still quite a subdued colour.