Atlas Cedar Tree Cones

Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is an evergreen conifer native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa and widely planted in parks and historic landscapes.
I collected these fallen rose-like cedar cones from the ground on a visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK.

For natural dyeing, fallen cedar cones collected from the ground in autumn and winter can be a useful seasonal material. Like many conifers, the cones contain tannins which can produce soft earthy colours.

When simmered they can produce gentle warm browns, sandy beige tones, and muted greys depending on fibre and dye concentration.

Because cedar cones contain natural tannins, they can interact well with mordants and modifiers. Alum tends to produce softer warm browns, while iron can shift the colours toward cooler greys and darker tones.

Cedar cone dyes work well on wool, silk, and other animal fibres, though cellulose fibres such as cotton and linen may produce lighter shades. As the cones are often easily gathered from the ground beneath mature trees, they provide a sustainable and accessible material for seasonal natural dyeing.

Images show tests using silk, cotton, linen and wool samples.
Samples where tested with no mordant, alum mordant and iron mordants as well as using a soda ash modifier after dyeing