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  April has the sweet pea, the daisy, and the lily. The sweet pea is used for friendship and strength. The daisy and lily are both faery favorites. The daisy symbolizes love. The lily is employed in the breaking of love spells. When lilies are planted in the garden, they keep both ghosts and sinister influences away from your home. The white lily is a symbol for the archangel Gabriel.

  May birthdays have lily of the valley and the hawthorn. Once again, both of these are attractive to the faeries. The lily of the valley has been cultivated for over four hundred years, and is a popular bridal flower due to its fragrance. While lily of the valley is magickally used to perk you up and lift your spirits, all parts of the plant are mildly toxic and should not be ingested. The blooms of the hawthorn are used in spells for fertility, happiness, and good luck in fishing.

  Born in the month of June? You claim the rose and the honeysuckle. Roses are primarily used for love, but have many other uses, depending on the color of the bloom (see chapter 1). The petals may be used in other magickal mixtures to help speed things up. Honeysuckle is for prosperity spells. Bring some blooming honeysuckle into your house to attract money.

  July birthdays have the larkspur and water lily. The larkspur is the common name for delphinium. The larkspur, sacred to Venus, is used for health and protection. Water lilies fall in the category of water plants. Use them in rituals that involve the element of water, such as healings, emotions, and psychic powers.

  Folks that are born in the month of August have the gladiola and poppy. The gladiola is a tall, stalky, intensely scented flower that is used by florists in large funeral arrangements. I would employ this flower as a tool for ending relationships or situations that you have outgrown, as in a “my old way of life has died, it’s time for me to move on in a more positive way” kind of thing. On a more upbeat note, the poppy is used for luck and prosperity. The poppy is sacred to many Greek/Roman deities, including one of my favorites, Demeter, the goddess of the harvest.

  September babies have the morning glory and the aster. The morning glory blooms in September and the vines can be used in binding spells. When grown in the garden, it brings peace and happiness. The aster, a butterfly favorite, was sacred to all the Greek gods and is used primarily for love spells.

  Was October when you made your debut? You’ve got the calendula and cosmos. Calendulas have the planetary association of the sun. Use them for strength, healing, and justice. Cosmos, most often grown as an annual, are bright, sunny little flowers that come in a wide variety of colors and heights. Refer to the magickal flower color chart on page 11 for the associations. (Ha! Have to figure this one out for yourselves!)

  To the month of November goes the chrysanthemum. The magical power of protection is the gift of this flower. Its elemental correspondence is fire. Here is another flower that, when grown in your yard, is supposed to protect you from ghosts. Considering that Samhain, famous for its free-roaming spirits, just ended, that’s pretty appropriate.

  December, the final month of the calendar year, has holly, ivy, and the poinsettia. The magickal pair of holly and ivy is classically used at Yule for seasonal decorations, the holly being the male plant, and the ivy the female. Holly is used for protection and ivy is used for fidelity and love. The poinsettia, a traditional holiday flower, came to us from Mexico. Another toxic houseplant, keep poinsettias away from pets and small children who might try to eat it. Poinsettia corresponds with the Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Mother of the Americas. Her sacred day is December 12.

  What was paradise? But a garden,

  an orchard of trees and herbs,

  full of pleasure, and nothing there but delights.

  Charles Dudley Warner

  Flowering Herbs of the Magickal Garden

  So far, we have covered floral color correspondences and looked at the flowers of the month. Now we return to your backyard gardens, or front yard gardens, as the case may be. I have listed plants that I feel are fairly uncomplicated to grow and easy to obtain from your local nurseries. If you are new to gardening, give yourself a break and start small. You can always expand the garden and grow more varieties in a few seasons. Remember that gardening isn’t learned in one summer. It takes years. You are probably going to lose a few plants (I have) and make some mistakes.

  Perennials take about three seasons to become mature. Keep that in mind when you plant that little baby perennial in your garden. If the identification tag says plant them eighteen inches apart, do so. It’s going to grow. If you mess up and plant them too close together, you can always move them farther apart later if you have to. You’ll learn as you go along, just like the rest of us gardeners.

  The following is a list of a witch’s dozen (that’s thirteen) easy-to-grow magickal flowering herbs for most gardens. The common name is followed by the botanical name, which appears in italics. The plant’s magickal correspondence is given immediately afterward.

  I have also included something that is missing from most magickal texts: practical tips, the plant’s growth habits, soil conditions, and approximate bloom times. In general, I have noticed that perennials that bloom prior to the summer solstice have a shorter bloom period than those that bloom after the solstice. The reason? Once the length of the sunlight hours has peaked, the growing cycle loses its urgency and flowering lasts for a longer period of time.

  A Witch’s Dozen of Flowering Magickal Herbs

  Bergamot or Bee Balm (Monarda) is used for prosperity and success. This orangy-mint scent is clean and refreshing. The flowers may be used in floral arrangements, either fresh or dried. This aromatic herb’s leaves and blooms are used both in potpourri and teas. Cultivated in sun or shade, this aggressive perennial is attractive to butterflies and bees. To keep it under control, divide the plant at least every third year, discarding the dead center. Zones 4–9.

  Coneflowers (Echinacea) strengthen spells. This perennial is a good choice for a beginning gardener. Coneflowers grow over three feet tall in full sun. They will also grow successfully in part shade, but they will not reach the same height as those grown in the sun. Coneflowers are native plants to most of the Midwest. They tolerate drought conditions, poor soils, multiply readily, and transplant well. Plan on dividing these every third year. Coneflowers make superb cut flowers. Birds and butterflies love them. Butterflies will use them as landing pads. Goldfinches raid them in the fall for the thistle, when the blooms have all faded and the thistles have dried. So don’t cut them back, let the birds have them. Available in purple and white varieties, a popular white variety is called White Swan. In zone 5, where I live, the coneflower starts to bloom in late June and continues through October. Zones 3–9.

  Cinquefoil (Potentilla), also known as five-finger grass—the five points of the leaves stand for love, riches, good health, power, and knowledge. This herb is most often employed in money spells. Cinquefoil grows in sun to part shade and isn’t too finicky about soils. It is a compact plant that blooms in June and July. The height of the plant depends on the variety. A tough, non-fussy variety that I grow in my garden has peachy-coral colored blooms. This variety is called Miss Willmott and grows eighteen inches tall. When the blooms fade, dead-head them and enjoy the foliage that stays in neat green mounds. Zones 4–8.

  Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium). A flower known to herbalists for centuries, who use it for health, protection, and to guard against accidents. Eating a few leaves of fresh feverfew every day—for example, on a sandwich—is supposed to alleviate migraine headaches. Feverfew grows well in the sun and likes drier soil conditions. Bloom time is around midsummer. The blooms of the feverfew are the bonus of growing this herb. The small, open clusters of tiny, daisylike flowers make great filler for arrangements.

  Don’t be afraid to clip a lot of blooms for yourself to enjoy, after the plant is established. If you do not dead-head this herb, those seeds will scatter and you’ll have it everywhere.
(Hooray! Free plants!) If you choose to dry feverfew, be careful handling those blooms when they dry, as they are fragile. After this plant establishes itself in your garden, probably in its second or third growing season, divide it up in autumn. Zones 4–7.

  Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum), a.k.a. houseleek. Ancient Romans grew this plant, which was rumored to be a gift from the God Jupiter. Legend says the plant prevents your home from being struck by lightning. This herb bestows protection and it guards against fire—sort of a magickal fire insurance policy. It keeps away evil spirits and repels black magick. Hens and chicks prefer sunny gardens and dry, well-drained soil. They also grow well in strawberry pots and containers on a sunny patio. Hens and chicks send off small rosettes that develop roots and become separate plants. Grown for its succulent type of foliage, this plant was once used as a first-aid plant, much as we use aloe vera today. If grown in the garden, it will survive most winters. If, however, your winter temperatures are extreme and you have hens and chicks planted in a container, move them indoors as a houseplant. Zones 4–8.

  Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis). This herb is used for cleansings. Harvest the flowering tops and newer leaves. These may be added into a ritual bath or used in charm bags tucked around the house to protect your home. Hyssop is a fragrant herb and may be added to potpourri mixtures. Hyssop prefers light, well-drained, alkaline soils. It may grow eighteen inches to three feet tall, depending on the variety, and likes full sun. Zones 5–9.

  Larkspur (Delphinium) has the magical correspondences of health and protection. Larkspur is a tall border plant available in white and different shades of blue. They can be grown as an annual or perennial. These pretty flowers are great for arrangements and add color in potpourri mixes. Larkspur grows anywhere from two to four feet tall and usually needs to be staked as it grows. It prefers moist, fertile soil and likes full sun. Bloom time is usually late spring to early summer. Perennial larkspur grows best in milder summer climates. Zones 3–7.

  I have a love-hate relationship with larkspur. I adore those blue flowers but I have a tough time growing larkspur successfully in my garden. So, I grow it as an annual . . . a short-lived annual. As soon as the heat and humidity of a Missouri summer hits, mine dies.

  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is used in love spells, calming charm bags, and dream pillows. The scent of lavender is cleansing, peaceful, and may be employed to calm headaches. A few fresh stems of blooming lavender or a drop or two of the essential oil in your bath water will help you wind down after a tough day. Perennial Munstead lavender grows twelve to eighteen inches tall. It is drought tolerant and appreciates sandy soil (zones 5–9). Lavender thrives in sunny, hot conditions, like along a sidewalk or a driveway. Harvest lavender as the blooms just start to open. If you dead-head your lavender, it will bloom several times throughout the growing season. There are many varieties of lavender. Make sure when you choose one that you are buying a variety that will winter over in your climate. (Check the tags for zone information; look for the word “perennial.” If it says “tender perennial,” then I would say it wouldn’t survive cold winter climates.)

  Peony (Paeonia officinalis). Used for its protective abilities, the peony bloom may be worn for this reason. Arrange the blooms in a vase in your home to prevent nightmares. Plant the shrub in the garden to protect your property. Peonies come in a wide variety of colors, including yellow. Peonies take a few years to become established, but they are well worth the wait. A fragrant May bloomer, it reminds me of old-style cabbage roses. Peonies like their soil enriched with compost and are happy growing in full sun. The shrubs grow two to three feet tall and need to be staked as they grow. Zones 3–8.

  A good trick is to take old tomato cages and, as the peonies break the ground in the spring, train the shoots to grow up inside of the cages. Plan on two to three cages per peony bush. As the foliage fills out, the cages become invisible. Dead-head the faded blooms and, later in autumn, cut the withered and brown foliage back to an inch or two from the ground. Store the cages away for next year.

  Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). This annual flower, cultivated by the Native Americans thousands of years ago, has always been honored as a symbol of the sun. Magickal uses are truth, fertility, and wishes. Sleeping with a sunflower beneath your pillow will tell you the truth of any matter. These plants require full sun and are easily started from seed. Sunflowers are heavy feeders, meaning they need lots of fertilizer. The height of sunflowers can vary, depending on the variety, from two feet to ten feet tall, and they are now available in many colors and bloom times. Check your seed packet for variety-specific bloom times, usually late July through September. Sunflowers will not winter over, but you may save some of the seeds and plant them again next season if you wish.

  Birds love sunflowers. If you grow the large-headed variety, save a seed head or two and put it out in the winter for the birds to snack on.

  Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Tansy’s magickal uses are for health and a long life. It is a faery plant that has the folk name of buttons. Tansy grows anywhere, in just about any type of soil. A variety that I have is fern leaf tansy. It grows two feet tall and is aggressive. (That’s a nice way for gardeners to say it spreads like crazy!) They bloom in late summer to early fall and the foliage is strongly scented. The blooms look like little golden buttons, hence the folk name. The dried flowers hold their color fairly well. You may try growing tansy near fruit trees to repel insects. The flowers are used to make yellow dye. Zones 5–8.

  Wooly Betony (Stachys byzantina), a.k.a. lamb’s ears. Magickal uses for lamb’s ears include protection, to repel nightmares, for healing, and for use in children’s magick. Dried and crumbled lamb’s ears sprinkled around the parameter of your home forms a protective barrier that no negativity or evil can pass. Lamb’s ears are easy to grow. This is a perennial that can grow even in poor soils, sun or shade. A lovely, soft, fuzzy border plant grown for its silver foliage, it’s a great plant for a children’s garden. Kids love to pet lamb’s ears. Bloom time is July—the blooms are a rich purple and the bloom stalks grow about two feet tall. If you want to keep them as only a border plant, cut off the bloom stalks as they appear. I happen to like the blooms. After the blooms have faded, I usually start to control the size of the plant by dividing it, as it is very aggressive.

  With one plant that I bought seven years ago I now have lamb’s ears in all of my beds—and in my neighbors’ too! (I gave lots of it away.) Don’t be afraid to pull this one up if it gets too big. Pull up unwanted sections (it spreads by underground shoots) until you have a size you can live with. Transplant those around your yard or pot it up and share it with your neighbors. Remember, it will expand out again next year, that’s what makes it fun. Zones 4–8.

  Yarrow (Achillea). An all-purpose magickal herb, often called the witch’s herb, yarrow instills courage, strength, love, and friendship, and banishes evil. It is a faery plant. Yarrow is one of my favorite perennial herbs. A variety that I grow in my gardens is Moonshine, a golden-yellow yarrow that dries beautifully. Yarrow is great for fresh arrangements. It is available in white, yellow, and shades of red and pink.

  Harvest these blooms when they are looking their best. Band them together, cover with a brown paper bag, and hang them upside down to dry in a non-humid, well-ventilated room. See chapter 8 for a yarrow love charm. Yarrow prefers full sun and likes rich, moist soil. The bloom time starts in late May to early June. The blooms last on the plants for almost six weeks. If you dead-head them after they have faded, you will be rewarded with another small batch of flowers in late summer. Zones 4–8.

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  Come forth into the light of things,

  let nature be your teacher.

  William Wordsworth

  4

  Florigraphy and Flower Folklore

  The magick and folklore of flowers is a fascinating subject. An old term once used to describe
the secret knowledge of the magickal properties of herbs, plants, and flowers is wort-cunning. “Wort” is an old English word for herb, and “cunning” is a synonym for craft. Therefore, the meaning of wort-cunning becomes crystal clear: herb craft.

  The wisewomen and cunning men of the past knew the ways of spellweaving and herbal magicks, the correct time to plant and harvest the crops, the interpretations of weather signs, and the omens of animals in the wilderness around them. In an age where your family could live or die depending on how well your crops grew and how successfully you hunted and gathered, this was essential information.

  This earthy wisdom was doubtless handed down through the family, from mother to daughter and father to son. Their inheritance is fruitful indeed. This practical knowledge of herbal magick and agricultural information was filtered down throughout the years as plant folklore, innocent charms, weather lore, home remedies, and country superstitions.

  Enter the modern witch. You just know that the real earth magick and herbal knowledge is out there somewhere, if only you could find someone to teach you. Wait a minute. Try looking a little closer to home. Have you tried your grandparents? Ask them about old superstitions, cures, and home remedies that their parents used.

  If you have an experienced gardener in the family, go make nice. Some of the best practical advice for gardening, along with plant folklore, that I have ever learned came innocently enough from a senior citizen. Go join a garden club or attend a free lecture, and sit and absorb some useful garden information. Behave yourself, now, and don’t scare the hell out of anyone by dropping your magickal interests into the conversation or by whipping out your latest Craft book. Not only is that bad manners, it won’t get you anywhere at all. Be discreet.

  You are going to have to dig deep and do your homework. A good place to start is by taking a long, hard look at old superstitions and folklore. Hit the library and see what you can find. A clever little trick is to start by researching mythology, plant folklore, and florigraphy.