Goldenrod Folklore
Also called by Woundwort, Goldenrod has a history of healing and lore.
It is said goldenrod indicates the presence of a spring, or often hidden treasure.
A story says it came about after a scared old woman in the woods asked the trees for a walking stick yet they refused.
The woman found a stick and asked it for its help. The stick agreed to be her staff and she leaned on it to help get through the forest.
When the old lady reached the edge of the forest, she had turned into a fairy, and sprinkled gold on the stick in gratitude for its support, turning it into goldenrod.
- Resource: https://groweatgift.com/2017/08/24/folklore-thursday-floral-folklore-goldenrod/
Rose Folklore
It is said one should be careful while cutting roses not to drop any of the petals on the ground. Doing so can bring bad luck.
It is said that in Scotland if a red rose blooms in fall a wedding will soon follow.
Rose bushes on grave sites speaks of the character of the deceased, this denotes that they were well loved.
Resource Site, https://www.icysedgwick.com/roses-folklore/
Chamomile
Ancient Egyptians dedicated Chamomile to Ra, because the flower reminded them of the sun.
Vikings added chamomile to their natural shampoo, as it could lighten the blonde hair, especially in the sun. Today recipes can still be found utilizing chamomile for this purpose.
Gamblers in older times, would wash their hands in a cooled chamomile tea before playing cards or throwing dice. This is one of the reasons chamomile is associated magically with prosperity.
Fireweed Folklore
There is a story told, but the tribe is not known. An old tale of a Native American woman and her mate. Her significant was said to be taken by an enemy tribe. She set fire to the enemy camp, carried her mate off and fled. The flames continued to scorch the camp and the enemy tribe chased the young woman. As her footsteps touch the ground it is said flames scorched the earth there.
The flames under her steps soon took the form soon after of the fireweed, and its color, that we know today, though this plant can be found in different hues than the bright magenta.
Another name for fireweed, bomb flower, stems from war time England. In bomb craters left from World War 2 it was said this plant would grow there where none had before and not much else.
- Resource site, https://www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-daily-column-from-summer-weed-to-fall-flower/
Mugwort Folklore
It has been called a witches herb, and known by another name, cronewort.
Folk magic has it connected with the entrance or door. A protective measure perhaps.
In shamanic cultures it could be utilized as a way to communicate with ancestors and other spirits. It has been used as a tonic for dream work, notably lucid dreaming.
In Medieval times Christians adapted its usage into some of their own stories. It was said that John The Baptist would carry this with him to ward off evil and other negative influence. This likely stemmed from its usage as a folk charm.
- Resource site, https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/mugwort/
Wormwood Folklore
Wormwood has an interesting folklore, including a story of a Chinese Emperor coming close to death or repetively poisioning himself and being able to recover, it is posed the plant he had took was this plant.
It is said to be named after the goddess Artemis, but this may not be so, there is another of history with similar name the plant could have taken its scientific name from. Called wormwood indicating a medicinal use of old, this plant has a few uses in traditional witchcraft.
Wormwood is noted in folk magic as a protection plant, it being bitter, and used in a folk remedy in drawers and cabinets to prevent insects. Its acrid bitterness can point to protective use as well as use in turning a relationship bitter.
In Germanic Tradition wormwood is burned as a fumigation to aid in the sensing of spirits.
Personal experience has confirmed, at least to myself, this fumigation usage.
- Resource sites, https://lafee.com/wormwood-history-myths/
- https://witchesandpagans.com/pagan-studies-blogs/hob-broom/the-defender-at-the-door-wormwood-folklore-and-household-uses.html
Red clover
This plant was related to prosperity and money so much so that an old proverb came about "They're living in clover". Which was a way to denote someone's affluence.
Relationship and marriage divination with this plant was commonly done traditionally. An old Quebec folk remedy has a young girl adding a four leaf clover to her shoe. The first man she meets thereafter should share the name of her future husband.
It was thought that clover would grow only in places the fae and elves would dwell.
The Victorian meaning for this flower included, protection and exorcism. A traditional folk use has one burn it as a fumigation to protect and exorcise a space.
- Resource site, https://www.pansymaiden.com/flowers/meaning/clover/