Garden Witch's Herbal

by Ellen Dugan

  Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare): vigor, long life

  Violet (Viola odorata): faerie magick, love, protection from enchantment

  Part Sun/Shade Plants

  Angelica (Angelica archangelica): inspiration, protection

  Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri): soothes, brings peace, calms the nerves

  Bergamot (Monarda didyma): success, prosperity

  Betony (Stachys spp.): also known as lamb’s ears; used in protection and children’s magick

  Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): A shade-loving herb that imparts courage to its bearer. This herb is a wonderful addition to spells that will encourage love and increase sexual potency.

  Catmint (Nepeta cataria): sacred to the goddess Bast; used for cat magick, affection, beauty, playfulness, and cheer

  Foxglove, common (Digitalis purpurea): This biennial plant’s enchanting blossoms may be used in charms and spells for faerie magick and protection. When foxgloves are grown in the garden, it’s like putting out a sign to attract both the elementals and the Fae. (Note: toxic)

  Foxglove, yellow (Digitalis lutea): A perennial foxglove that is dainty and blooms yellow. Use in spells for protection and to get the attention of the faeries. (Note: toxic)

  Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens): This herb has the scent of vanilla and cherries, which explains the folk name often ascribed to this plant of “cherry pie.” Magickal associations to this flowering herb are invisibility and faerie magick. Garden Witch Tip: If you have sensitive skin, you may wish to wear gloves while handling this plant, as it can cause contact dermatitis.

  Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris): love, romance, women’s mysteries

  Lobelia (Lobelia erinus), annual blue variety: protects against gossip, and as a true blue flower it is sacred to Venus/Aphrodite

  Mallow (Malvia spp.): love, protection, banishing

  Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): sacred to the goddess Artemis; moon magick, women’s mysteries (note: mildly toxic)

  Nicotiana (Nicotiana tabacum): Use flowering tobacco for moon magick, healing, and cleansing; it is a good herbal substitute for more baneful herbs. (Note: toxic)

  Pansy (Viola tricolor): This popular annual flower comes in a rainbow of colors and color combinations. The folk name for the pansy is “heartsease,” which is appropriate because this flower is worked into love spells, love divinations, and, according to flower folklore, will help to heal a broken heart.

  Salvia, Red (Salvia): This popular annual bedding plant may be used for strength and wisdom.

  Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis): This lovely flowering herb is perfect for cleansing spells.

  Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum): This shade-loving groundcover encourages protection and safe homes. It is also worn or carried as a protective charm for athletes.

  Sun Plants

  Bay (Laurus nobilis): protection, health, promotes psychic abilities

  Borage (Borago officinalis): courage, psychic abilities

  Calendulas (Calendula officinalis): health, sunshine

  Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): protection, absorbs negativity

  Cockscomb (Celosia spp.): promotes energy, protection, healing

  Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata): cheer, sunshine, chases away the blues

  Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum): innocence, sweetness

  Delphinium, blue (Delphinium grandiflora): love; these blue flowers are sacred to Venus/Aphrodite

  Dianthus/Clove pinks (Dianthus caryophyllus): promotes energy, beauty, and health

  Dill (Anethum graveolens): protection, prosperity

  Fennel (Funicular vulgare): health, purification

  Feverfew (Tanacetum partheium): protection, health, safe travel

  French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus): The word dracunculus is French for “little dragon.” Tarragon fights fatigue. It is suggested that you slip a few leaves in your shoe.

  Geranium (Perlagonium spp.): Red for protection, pink for love, coral for energy, and white for fertility.

  Lavender (Lavendula officinale): protection, counteracts the evil eye

  Marigolds (Tagetes patula): power of the sun, protection, promotes wealth and glory

  Marjoram (Origanum majorana): joy, love, serenity

  Morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea): power, protection, love bindings, banishing (note: mildly toxic)

  Oregano (Origanum spp.): relieves anxiety, encourages peace

  Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): protection, prosperity, astral projection

  Petunias (Petunia spp.): power, cheer

  Rose (Rosa spp.): love, power (Rose petals add an extra boost of power and will encourage a speedy outcome to your spells.)

  Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): remembrance, cleansing, love, health

  Sage (Salvia officinalis): wisdom, healing, protection

  Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparisus): Also known as cotton lavender. This herb is sacred to Mercury and is actually a part of the daisy family. Try using this herb for communication and to speed up the outcome of your spellwork.

  Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus): protection, breaks negative energy, repels manipulative spells

  Strawberries (Fragaria vesca): sacred to Freya; promotes perfection, love, and health

  Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): affluence, confidence, grandeur, helps you to stand out in a crowd

  Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas): This is a non-edible annual vine. Sweet potato vines come in some fabulous colors, like lime green and deep purple. Magickal associations for the lime green vines include luck and prosperity; for purple-colored vines, passion and power. This plant is part of the morning glory family and is mildly toxic.

  Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): new projects, love, romance, psychic powers, cleansing

  Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): This plant brings seven years of marital happiness and is worked into healing spells. Also, this is a classic Witch’s herb and is considered an all-purpose magickal herb.

  Zinnia (Zinnia spp.): In the language of flowers, it symbolizes “thinking of you.” May be used in friendship spells and to promote sunny dispositions.

  The Fascination of Flowers

  Each flower is a soul opening out to nature.

  gérard de nerval

  I know you will find plenty of ways to put all the information in this chapter to good practical use, for no matter what climate you live in, herbal magick is available and waiting for you. Working with herbs, flowers, and botanicals is one of the most rewarding varieties of Witchcraft, and it is also integral to the practice of green magick. May you enjoy your time spent with the plant kingdom; allow your soul to bloom, and absorb all the lessons the plants can teach you.

  [contents]

  Chapter 3

  Magickal Plants

  of the Southwest

  Never a day passes but that I do myself the honor

  to commune with some of nature’s varied forms.

  george washington carver

  It occurred to me that as we delve into the world of herbalism and green magick, it would be fascinating to look not only at the classic garden plants but also at the plants of the more arid areas and warmer climates such as the American Southwest and the West Coast regions. Interestingly enough, when I first started researching this book, a coven-mate handed me a bag full of reference books and in it was an old book on cacti and succulents.

  The book had belonged to her family, and apparently her mother had used it when they gardened and lived in New Mexico when my friend was a little girl. At first, I ignored the book, and then after a while it started to tickle my imagination. Then when another friend suggested that I include a chapter on the plants of the Southwest and not leave out the western gardening Witches, I really got inspired. So I dug into that bag and pulled out thos
e books. Then I hit the library and was amazed and frankly envious at the number of plants that were so well suited to gardeners in warmer climates.

  And as I sat in my office on a bitterly cold January day, I researched those gorgeous plants and dreamed a little. I was captivated at the variety of plants, many with magickal associations that are popular with and readily available to southwestern gardeners today. I drooled over gorgeous varieties of sage, willow, privet, cacti, wildflowers, and grasses. Like any other gardener, magickal or mundane, I am always on the lookout for new varieties of plants and fresh gardening information. As I happily took reams of notes, I could feel my enthusiasm firing up. So I rubbed my Garden Witch’s hands together, started writing, and conjured up some fresh herbal magick, Wild West style.

  Magickal Associations for Thirteen Plants

  of the West and Southwest

  The West of which I speak is but another name for the Wild; and what I have been preparing to say is, that in Wildness is the preservation of the World.

  henry david thoreau

  There are so many plants to pick from that eventually I decided to write on the most common, popular plants that were readily available to gardeners in the West Coast and southwestern regions. When it comes to the local varieties of magickal plants, such as the popular California poppy, the New Mexico sunflower, or the desert willow, simply apply the classic magickal associations for the common poppy, the sunflower, and the willow tree. No matter where it grows, the plants will have basically the same magickal uses as their botanical cousins.

  However, as I always stress, your knowledge and experience is vitally important here. Follow your instincts, and see what the plants tell you about their elemental correspondences. You may decide that for you, personally, they differ. And if that is so, then keep notes and simply go with what works best for you. Here are thirteen fascinating plants for you to incorporate into your own herbal magick.

  Century Plant (Agave Americana)

  Also known as agave. This native plant of Mexico is now grown worldwide. It is a succulent plant and is described as “half hardy.” The leaves are grey green, sword-shaped, and can grow to be six feet in length. The plant got its common name due to the belief that it only flowered once every one hundred years—not true, but the plant does only bloom once in its lifespan. The century plant bears a tall panicle, or bundle, of tubular-shaped, light yellow flowers up to twenty-five feet in height. The average life span for this plant is twenty-five years, and it dies shortly after flowering.

  There is also a beautiful variegated variety of agave called ‘Marginata’ with yellow and green striped foliage, which would be an enchanting addition to a warm climate garden. The leaves of the century plant yield a papyruslike fiber called pita, which can be made into rope, matting, and even a crude cloth. Because it is so versatile, it was an important plant to the pre-Columbian civilizations. Please note that while the century plant is sometimes called American aloe, it is not even related to the aloe plant.

  There are no classic magickal associations for this stately beauty, so I would imagine the century plant could be worked into spells for endurance and strength and the rare blossoms for miracles. In my opinion, the astrological association would be the sun, and the elemental correspondence would be fire.

  desert four o’clock

  Desert Four o’ Clock (Mirabilis multiflora)

  This variety of four o’clock grows well in southwestern gardens and grows wild in piñon-juniper woodlands or in shrublands. Four o’clocks are herbaceous perennial plants, meaning they die back to their roots every year. The plants grow in clumps with many stems and may reach up to three feet in height. The leaves are deep green and are described as “egg-shaped” or sometimes heart-shaped. The cuplike magenta flowers are borne in small clusters. Interestingly, four o’clocks do not have petals—they have sepals, which are petal-like in look but in reality are fused together, creating a funnel-shaped blossom. The Native Americans used this plant as a sedative. Some tribes created a pale brown or purple dye for wool from this plant as well.

  In the language of flowers, the four o’clock symbolizes shyness. And just as their name suggests, four o’clocks bloom in the late afternoon, remaining open throughout the night. It should be noted that sometimes on a cloudy day they may be fooled into opening in the morning. Four o’clocks will draw in hawkmoths in the evening, which are the main pollinators of this flower. A charming and very appropriate folk name for four o’clocks is “Beauty of the Night.” Due to their nocturnal blooming habitats and their sedative properties, I would ascribe the magickal association of the moon to this lovely flower. The suggested elemental correspondence is water. Magickal uses would be lunar magick, overcoming shyness, sleep, and dreams.

  gayfeather/liatris

  Gayfeather/Liatris (Liatris spicata)

  Also called prairie gayfeather, blazing star, or button snakewort, this gorgeous blooming herb is from the aster family. It has rosy purple or mauve flower spikes that are covered in florets. The flowers are described as being the shape of a bottlebrush and open from the top of the stem down. The gayfeather has tiny, thin leaves that get smaller in size as they grow closer to the flowering top. The plant is described as having a haylike scent. The foliage of this plant will repel moths. Liatris is a popular flower in floral design as it lasts for days when it is cut. This is also a striking specimen plant when grown in the garden. It will attract bees and butterflies.

  In the language of flowers, this purple beauty stands for gaiety and cheer. Magickally, you may use the gayfeather to bring some happiness and brightness into your life. The planetary correspondence is Venus; the elemental association is water.

  A Flower Fascination with Liatris

  Arrange some of these pretty purple spikes in a water-filled vase with other enchanted flowers from your garden. Now either give them as a gift to someone who is down in the dumps or keep them for your own family and soak in the positive vibrations that they can offer to all of you.

  Here is a little floral fascination that you can add to boost the power and magickal energy of your floral arrangement. Once you have the flowers arranged to your liking, hold your hands over the blossoms and repeat the following spell verse:

  Liatris is a blazing star, also called gayfeather,

  Bring sunshine, cheer, and joy to my/their home, in any weather.

  Add your natural power to mine, and swirl about this/their place,

  With a touch of herbal magick, I’ll put a smile on your face.

  This cheerful herbal spell is spun straight from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  Once you have finished the spell, either give the arrangement as a gift right away or set it in a place of prominence in your home so the whole family can enjoy it.

  jacob’s ladder

  Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium foliosissmum)

  This herbaceous perennial may grow up to two feet tall and is a late spring to early summer bloomer. The sky blue flowers are borne in clusters and are a beautiful bell shape with distinctive golden yellow stamens. The plant got its name from the unique foliage: the leaves are arranged in pairs and grow straight across from each other on the stems in a ladderlike style. There are other varieties of Jacob’s ladder that bloom in white as well. One European variety of Jacob’s ladder is also known as Greek valerian, and its botanical name is Polemonium caeruleum.

  In the language of flowers, Jacob’s ladder tells its recipient to come back to earth and to let go of their pride. Magickally, you may work this plant into charms and spells designed to quickly restore peace, serenity, and a sense of calm. According to Culpeper’s Herbal, this flower’s ruling planet is Mercury. The suggested elemental correspondence is air.

  lupin

  Lupin/Lupine (Lupin spp.)

  There are many varieti
es of the lupin that grow beautifully in drier, warmer climate gardens. This plant can be a herbaceous perennial, and there are also a few varieties of lupin that are annuals. (Check your local nursery for plants that are best suited to your garden and your climate.) Classically, this plant has long, narrow leaf stems with a circle of narrow leaves at the top. Leaves are composed of several leaflets that branch out from a central point. The eye-catching flowers blossom in June and are classically described as being “arranged in dense or open whorls on an erect spike, or raceme.” While blue is the most common flower shade, lupins may come in a variety of colors such as yellow, purple, dark pink, or white.

  A pretty variety of lupin that is recommended for western gardens is the silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus). This is a perennial plant that has silvery-grey foliage and grows up to two feet in height. The flowers bloom in midsummer and look like sweet peas. The blossoms are lilac to violet in color.

  In the language of flowers, lupines symbolize imagination and voraciousness. Magickal uses include increasing your personal power and attraction. Classically, the lupin has the planetary association of Mars, but as many wild lupines are deep blue, including the annual Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis), you might also consider the planetary influence of Venus. The suggested elemental correspondence is water. According to flower folklore tradition, all blue flowers are sacred to the goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus.

  Garden Witch Tip: It is important to note that there are several varieties of wild lupins that are considered poisonous to livestock. In fact, there are some sobering articles online from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) on the problems wild lupins can cause to grazing sheep and cattle.

  moss rose

  Moss Rose/Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora)

  This annual flower has a high heat and drought tolerance and grows up to eight inches in height. It comes in a variety of colors such as rose, pale pink, orange, yellow, and white. This annual has succulent-looking foliage and comes from the purslane family. Moss rose flowers can be found in double or single varieties, and the petals close up in the afternoon. Portulaca is one of my favorite annuals for late summertime containers, as they thrive in full sun and love the heat. I can only imagine how gorgeous they would be in a garden that was typically warm and dry.