Over the years, a number of plants became associated with fairies, either as good for warding them off or curing the diseases they were believed to cause, or as plants which were special or sacred to fairies.

Trees

Of trees, the oak, hawthorn, hazel and apple were considered the favorites of fairies. A bag of hazelnuts was given to brides to help ensure that the couple would have children. Any solitary tree or bush, however, was considered to belong to the fae, and heaven help anyone who harmed the tree in any way. To cut one down was to invite curses and illness, and to burn any part of one was certain to cause the house it was used in to burn to the ground.

Willow trees, also, were related to fairies, and it was thought that willow trees would follow travellers around at night, muttering as they went.

Ash and mountain ash (rowan) were used to protect against fairies. Hung in the cattles' stalls, it was supposed to stop them from being "fairy-shot", or being cursed with other diseases. Ash or rowan crosses hung over a baby's crib would stop the fairies from stealing the child.

Flowers and Plants

Fairies are supposed to love primroses and foxglove the very best of all flowers. If you grow them in your garden, be sure to look after them well, as they will become upset if they are not properly cared for. Other garden flowers they like include tulips, periwinkles, and forget-me-nots. People were warned not to go into the woods to pick blue belles; children who picked them in the woods might be stolen, and adults would be "fairy-led" (wander around lost and in a daze) until someone found them and led them home. Other plants which were associated with fairies were wild thyme, ragwort (they were known to turn them into steeds and ride them), rye grass, broom, red campion and devil's bit scabious. I don't know what the last two things are.

To counteract or drive off fairies, people used St. John's Wort, which was supposed to protect against a great many things, including fairy blight, witchcraft, and the devil. Also popular were verbena, speedwell, eyebright, marrow, and yarrow. Yarrow in particular was supposed to be most effective if gathered at noon on a bright day near a full moon.

Four-leaf clovers are also mentioned in several fairy tales as being made into an eye ointment which, when applied to the eye, allows mortals to see fairies and also see through fairy glamour.

last updated Feb 20, 2000 by Strawberry