Dye plants that are commonly used by the regional people of East Anatolia were studied. The following information was collected: local name of plants, the part of plants containing dye, obtained color, dying substances, and extraction of colors. As a result of area investigations carried out between 1994 and 2000, 50 taxa (used for dying wool yarns in the region) belonging to 38 genera and 26 families were determined from collected specimens.

By using the dying plants and mediator substances, 15 different colors and tones can be obtained. The main colors are yellow, green, olive green, black, red, blue, dark blue, brown, gray, beige, orange, khaki, mustard, purple, and smoke. The colors and their many different tones were observed on kilims and carpets that are woven in the East Anatolia region of Turkey.