Magickal herbs and flowers

Every witch will tell you a herb garden is a must. But if you only have room for a windowbox, here’s Sandra’s pick of the plants you can grow in pots.

FENNEL

‘This was thought to be consumed by snakes before shedding their skins, making it a symbol of renewal,’ says Sandra. ‘Hung over doorways at midsummer, it would ward off witches, while plugging keyholes with fennel kept out ghosts!’

If growing indoors, you’ll need a big pot as fennel produces a long taproot that needs plenty of depth and you tend to add more soil on top as the plant grows to protect the bulbs from the Sun.

MINT

This is said to replenish psychic energy when you inhale its scent. Though according to folklore, says Sandra, ‘you should never buy mint, or at least pay for it. Ideally you should steal it from your neighbour!

‘It’s a bit of a spreader too,’ she cautions. ‘If growing outdoors sink a pot into the ground so you can keep it where you want it!’

ROSEMARY

‘Thought to protect against evil spirits, fairies, lightning and injury, and bring business success and love,’ says Sandra.

‘It’s said he who grows rosemary will never be without friends and cannot be harmed by witchcraft – though it’s also said to grow best in the house of a dominant woman! So in the past men didn’t grow it in case it made them look less manly!

‘A sprig under your pillow was said to prevent nightmares and it was used for the memory. A recent study found rosemary oil does help memory, so perhaps the tradition of giving sprigs to schoolchildren before exams is justified.’

PARSLEY

A sprig of parsley was believed to offer protection while travelling. But Sandra notes it was traditionally known as the ‘herb of death’!

‘It was said if you cut parsley while in love, your sweetheart would die. And if you spoke a person’s name while picking it, they would die within seven days,’ she explains.

‘Never give parsley as a gift,’ warns Sandra. ‘It’s very, very bad luck. And ideally it should be sown on a holy day, like Good Friday, or else the fairies will steal it.’

LAVENDER

This is said to invite fairies to your garden. Some say it’s an aphrodisiac, some the opposite!

‘It was once said when humans inhaled the scent of lavender they could see ghosts, but it was more often worn by children as a talisman against the Evil Eye,’ says Sandra.

‘During the Middle Ages, girls snuck lavender under the pillows of men they liked to turn their thoughts to romance!’

BASIL

‘According to the Greeks, basil needed to be verbally abused while it was sown in order to flourish,’ says Sandra. In Moldova, a lad who accepted a sprig of basil from a girl would love her forever. And Mexican people carried a few leaves in their pockets to attract luck and money.’