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Reseda luteola

weld

Resedaceae

Europe, North Africa, and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Reseda luteola is an erect biennial, occasionally annual, reaching 2-5 feet (60-150 cm) tall and 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide. In its first year it forms a basal rosette of narrow, oblong leaves; in the second year it sends up a single stiff, ridged stem topped with a slender flowering spike. The leaves are lance-shaped, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, with wavy margins and a single pale midrib, dark green and often crinkled. Flowers are small, four-petalled, and yellow-green, packed densely along a spike that can reach 12-20 inches (30-50 cm). The plant has a deep taproot that reaches moisture in dry, disturbed ground, letting it colonise quarry spoil, road verges, and chalk grassland. It self-seeds readily and can spread beyond its original position in open soil. Historically the whole plant was harvested as a source of luteolin, yielding a yellow dye used in textiles since Roman times. Foliage and stems die back after seed set, completing the two-year cycle. Plants grown in rich soil make taller, softer growth that may need support, while those on poor ground stay shorter and more rigid. The species tolerates drought once established but does not persist in waterlogged or heavily shaded sites.

Native Range

Reseda luteola is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, growing on chalk and limestone soils, disturbed ground, and coastal cliffs. It has naturalised across North America, Australia, and other temperate regions.

Suggested Uses

Grown in wildlife and pollinator plantings, gravel gardens, and chalk or meadow borders where the vertical spikes rise above lower planting. Also used in dye gardens for its historic role as a source of yellow pigment.

How to Identify

Look for a single tall, ridged flowering stem rising from a basal rosette, topped with a dense spike of small yellow-green four-petalled flowers. The narrow, wavy-edged leaves carry one pale midrib and no marginal teeth. Seed capsules are three-lobed, upright, and stay on the stem as it dries.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer

Flowering runs from June to September, with the spike opening from the base upward over several weeks. Individual flowers are short-lived, but the elongating spike keeps colour on the plant through midsummer. Bees and other small pollinators visit the open flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Flowers in its second year from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun on free-draining, neutral to alkaline soil, including poor, stony, or chalky ground. Water occasionally until the rosette establishes, after which the taproot supplies most of its own moisture. Rich, wet soils make floppy growth and shorten the plant's life. Seed sown in late summer or autumn flowers the following year, and germinates most reliably when pressed onto the surface in light. Plants set heavy seed, so cutting spent spikes before they shed limits self-sowing. No feeding is needed on average garden soil.

Pruning

No formal pruning is required. Cutting the flowering stems back after bloom limits seeding where self-sown plants are unwanted. Whole plants are pulled once they die back at the end of the second season.