How to Dye Easter Eggs With Hibiscus

This year I thought it would be fun to experiment with unique ways to dye Easter eggs. Being in Hawaii inspired me to try something plant-based. Let’s see how to dye Easter eggs with hibiscus.

Hibiscus flowers are all over Hawaii. They are native to the islands as well as a few other tropical locations. Growing up in Southern California, they were actually quite common, but it wasn’t until recently that I thought about using them for dye.

I tried a few different methods to see what works best. I’ll share my tips and tricks along the way.

If you are visiting via Jennifer at Cottage on Bunker Hill, thanks for coming over! Wasn’t her Easter egg wreath super cute? Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers’ projects when you get to the end of this post.

If this is your first time visiting This Dear Casa, I don’t normally focus on tropical decor. I have a more traditional with a twist style, with lots of vintage. However, we love tropical destinations and while we are visiting there, we fully embrace the whole look!

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Gather materials.

Yellow hibiscus is abundant where we stay in Hawaii. There are also red and pink varieties too.

Hibiscus is a natural dye that can create beautiful, vibrant colors on your Easter eggs. Unlike artificial dyes, hibiscus is a natural and eco-friendly option for dyeing Easter eggs.

Since I wasn’t sure how the flowers would work, I bought hibiscus tea as well.

The tea shown above in the photo is more yellow than I wanted so I bought Tazo Passion tea. It is a blend of hibiscus and other ingredients. I’ve used it in the past on fabric and liked the almost dusty rose color that it produced.

Under the photo are links to dried hibiscus in case the plant isn’t readily available in your area.

Boil eggs.

You will need:

• White eggs
• Hibiscus flowers (fresh or dried) and/or tea
• Water
• Vinegar
• Pot to boil water

I read that you can boil the flowers together with the eggs, but I spaced out and boiled the eggs alone. Mom brain!

Boil flowers and or tea in enough water to submerge eggs.

Prepare your dye.

In a pot, add 2 cups of water, 1 cup of hibiscus flowers, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

I first tried the yellow hibiscus. The water instantly turned yellow and I was really excited that I would get deep goldenrod yellow.

In reality the eggs are a muted mustard yellow.

I only had six flowers; more flowers would provide more intense color.

Soak eggs as long as you like.

To get deeper colors, soak eggs overnight.

You can use soup bowls or plastic containers and store in the refrigerator.

After trying the yellow hibiscus, I tried a combo of pink and red flowers.

I had high hopes for this mix, but the result was very lackluster.

The result is sort of a light brown.

The only reason I can think of is that I let the yellow flowers dry out about two weeks longer than the red and pink.

Next I tried the tea. This yields the most dramatic result; an indigo almost black color. I was surprised because my cloth dye projects were much lighter and more pink! I left the tea bags in with the eggs, which produced a blotchy look, which I thought looked cool!

See below for the results.

More About How to Dye Easter Eggs with Hibiscus

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Can I eat my hibiscus flowers?

Yes! As a kid I first tasted hibiscus as agua fresca de Jamaica (pronounced ha-my-i-ca in Spanish), which is a Mexican drink made of hibiscus. You can also try it in tea form as mentioned above. So it will also be suitable to dye eggs!

Are plant dye projects good for kids?

My son is five and he was totally interested in this. He wanted to help place the eggs in and out of the dye and he wanted to see how they turned out. With some adult guidance, even younger kids could participate.

What other plants can I use to dye Easter eggs?

There are quite a few! Indigo, fennel, yarrow, dahlia, chamomile, avocado seeds, and more.

Now that you know the steps, here are some tips and tricks to optimize your hibiscus egg dyeing experience:

• Use white eggs, as they will take on the color of the dye more easily than brown eggs.
• Experiment with different ratios of hibiscus to water to achieve different shades of color.
• Add more vinegar to the dye if you want a brighter, more vibrant color.
• Use a white crayon or wax to draw designs on your eggs before dyeing them, creating a resist effect where the wax is applied.
• Store your dyed eggs in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

Don’t forget to check out these projects!

Libbie from A Life Unfolding is up next in the hop. She made a quick and easy Easter floral arrangement. Visit all of the posts below too!

Easter Egg Blog Tour

More Amazing Easter Egg Inspiration

Click the links below the images to go straight to their posts. ENJOY!

Chalking Up Success // My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia // Bluesky at Home

The Everyday Farmhouse // Saved from Salvage // Zucchini Sisters // Cottage on Bunker Hill

This Dear Casa // A Life Unfolding // A Life of Balance

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Thanks so much for reading. Hope you visit our casa again soon!

Shop finds inspired by the post.

Click on images below to shop. I chose tropical inspired serveware, dishes and more. Palm prints and natural materials create a casual Easter vibe. Why not try something tropical this Easter?