Dyer's woad , or Isatis tinctoria , has been used for centuries in the age-old art of plant dyeing. Long before the arrival of tropical indigo in Europe, its leaves provided the deep blue hue for fabrics, particularly in temperate regions. In a thriving garden, it first appears as a rosette of bluish-green leaves close to the ground, then, in its second year, it grows into a tall, branching stem adorned with small yellow flowers.

Planted in suitable soil, it forms a robust yet discreet presence. Its delicate flowering blends seamlessly into a kitchen garden or a quiet corner reserved for useful plants. Its cyclical nature perfectly illustrates the gardener's rooted approach: observing its rosette in the first year, nurturing its flowering in the second, and allowing a few seeds to ripen, thus continuing the connection with nature throughout the seasons.