The witches garden is filled with magickal plants like herbs, vines, veggies, fruits, trees, and flowers. Flowers bring beauty and purpose to a garden. And what is a garden without flowers?Gardening is about knowing the land: the weather, the soil, the eco-system, the wildlife, etc. What native plants grow nearby? Can you plant these in your garden? What do the neighbors grow successfully? Take a look around and see what magickal plants, flowers particularly, will grow best in your garden. Flowers that support wildlife, are beautiful, and also serve as magical ingredients are essential. Here are my suggestions for the best flowers to have in the witches garden. Grow one, some, or all!
10 Magical Flowers for Your Witch’s Garden
What you choose to grow is up to you. Let the spirits of the land and your intuition guide you. Start small with a plant from the nursery and expand.
1. Roses: Versatile and Otherworldly
This choice shouldn’t be surprising. Everyone loves getting roses on special occasions, why not grow roses in your garden? There are dozens of kinds of roses for various land and weather conditions. Go to local nurseries and ask what type of roses grow best. Choose different colors – red, orange, white, pink, dark red, or yellow. Roses aren’t just pretty, they serve a purpose. Harvest the rosehips for teas, herbal baths, cordials, desserts, and more. Harvest the rose petals and buds for decorative baking, potpourri, love spells, etc. The thorns are protective – carefully remove them from the stem and add them to witch’s bottles, jars, and talismans.
2. Foxglove: Old World Fairy Flower
Foxglove flowers are grown in old cottage gardens. They also grow in the wild. Traditionally, foxglove is a fairy flower and invites the fay to play! Foxglove comes in different colors, the most popular being purple, pink, and white. Keep in mind, never ingest foxglove. It is poisonous in certain quantities. Foxglove is known in the medical field for its digitalis properties – it is used to make a heart medication called digoxin. Keep pets and small children away from foxglove. Foxglove as a magickal plants is used in fairy rituals and raising the dead. Do not ingest or rub on skin. Do not burn.
3. Moonflower: The Witch’s Vine
Moonflower is a perennial vine in the Southern regions of the United States. If grown elsewhere, it is an annual. Let it climb a trellis or fence. Moonflower blooms at night in the moonlight, giving it its name. The moonflowers are fragrant and attract sphinx and hummingbird moths. Their blooms are white and the leaves dark green. The blooms will close at dawn, so harvest them before morning. The witches garden welcomes pollinators, and the moonflower is perfect for feeding moths. One of the essential magickal plants in a witches garden for the following reasons: induces psychic abilities, shapeshifting, occult mysteries, transformation, and aids esbat rituals.
4. Sunflower
On the opposite end of the spectrum, grow sunflower in the witches garden. Grow it right next to the moonflower. This way you’ll have flowers representing the moon and sun – a witch’s best friends. Plant sunflower seeds in the spring and watch them bloom late summer to early fall. Harvest sunflower petals for potpourris, mojo bags, herbal offerings, herbal soaps, candles, and more. Harvest the seeds for roasting and eating! Or let this magickal plant go to seed and re-seed itself to grow again next year. The sunflower seeds make great food for the birds and critters. Bees and butterflies love sunflowers, too.
5. Passion flower
Grown as a perennial vine in the Southern U.S. and tropical regions, passion flower is an otherworldly, magickal plant. The flowers attract bumblebees. The passionflower is a host plant for the gulf fritillary and zebra longwing butterflies. These gorgeous butterflies lay their eggs on the plant and the caterpillars eat the plant. The witches garden supports wildlife, so the passion flower is worthy for the witches garden. Passion flower is also known for its medicinal and edible qualities. The fruits are edible, the leaves and flowers are medicinal. The passion flower is a climbing vine, so give it something to crawl up!
6. Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks are stalk-flowers in the mallow or hibiscus family. They are typically grown in old cottage gardens alongside foxgloves. Hollyhocks come in all different colors (my favorite is the black hollyhock). They are perennial in hot climates, annual in cooler climates. They will re-seed at the end of the season, however. Grow hollyhocks somewhere where they can grow tall – they can grow up to seven feet in height! Hollyhocks are a host plant for the painted lady butterfly and attract other pollinators to the witches garden.
7. Pentas: Egyptian Star Clusters
Pentas, also called Egyptian star-clusters, are annual flowers in the north and perennial in the south. They don’t handle frost well, but grow well in subtropical climates. These tiny flowers grow on bushy green stems and feed pollinators of all kinds! I’ve seen butterflies, honeybees, moths, and more feeding from the blooms. Pentas come in red, pink, white, and purple shades. In hot climates, they grow best in part shade. In cooler climates, they need more sun. They are a beautiful and hardy magickal plant. Harvest the buds for spell ingredients or simply enjoy their dainty colors lighting up your witches garden. Penta’s magical properties include: Egyptian magick, star magick, beauty, love and steadfastness.
8. Lavender
This should be another dead giveaway. Lavender is an essential flower for the witches garden for many reasons. It is an edible and aromatic herb. Use the buds in soaps, candles, oils, incense, dream sachets, beauty products, baths, etc. Magical uses for lavender include: love, relaxation, self-care, lust, and healing. Lavender has been used for centuries as perfume on the body and clothing. Stuff a bag of lavender in your pillowcase to ensure soothing sleep and good dreams. Lavender is also edible in baked goods and teas. I’ve found lavender grows best in part shade (I live in a hot climate) and when it gets watered 2 to 3 times a week.
9. Jasmine
Jasmine is a flowering perennial vine that grows well in tropical climates but can be grown elsewhere. The buds are small and white but produce such an aroma, the neighbors down the street will smell it on breezy days! Add jasmine flowers to floor washes and sweeps, herbal teas, incense, potpourri, herbal baths, poppets and more. Jasmine will climb a trellis, arch, or fence so put it somewhere it can grow upwards. Jasmine’s magical properties include: love, passion, healing, prophecy, and clarity. You want this magickal plant in your garden.
10. Hibiscus: Tropical Joy
Hibiscus is a perennial flower in the mallow family. It is well known for its bright colors and long stamen. Hibiscus grows well in full sun and is found naturally in tropical regions. Harvest roselle for herbal tea – it adds a strong fruity flavor and induces lust. The effects of red hibiscus tea were so strong, Egyptians warned women from drinking it lest they lose their inhibitions. Hibiscus magical properties include: lust, passion, beauty, marriage, dreams and divination. Hibiscus is used in Hindu and Hawaiian traditions and has been for centuries. Bring a tropical vibe to your witches garden with hibiscus.
11. Milkweed
Doesn’t sound like a beautiful flower, does it? But milkweed is important one big reason – it is a host plant to a few pollinators. Namely the monarch butterfly. If you’re a butterfly witch and love to see butterflies flitting through your witch’s garden, add some milkweed to it. Research which milkweed species grows best in your zone. Don’t be surprised if you see caterpillars on your milkweed and then the next day, your milkweed is gone! Don’t worry. It will grow back. The amazing thing is that you are providing a home and food for monarch butterfly babies – those green and gold caterpillars.
Ways to Use Flowers in Your Magick
Just growing flowers in your garden is magical in and of itself. Taking strolls through your garden, you might notice new growth, flower buds, and you’ll align with the changing of the seasons. By growing flowers, you’ll also attract flower fairies and wildlife like butterflies, bees, birds, moths and insects of all kinds. Some flowers even attract bats and other animals. But how else can we use flowers in our magical practice? Here’s a few ideas.
1. Craft Magical Flower Crowns
When Spring and Summer are in full bloom, so are the flowers and so are you! Gather fresh flowers from your garden, a field, or even from the store, and learn how to weave them into something magnificent like a magical flower crown. This is a perfect way to celebrate the Beltane or Midsummer sabbats and attract fairies at the same time!
2. Flower Magic Baths
Add flower petals and buds to your ritual bath. On the Full Moon, add a handful of rose petals, lavender buds, or chamomile to the bath. Cleanse away negative vibes and bring in peace and beauty by working flower magic into your ritual bathing routine.
3. Flower Magic With Tea
Enjoy a cup of hot tea? Flowers are often the main component in herbal teas including chamomile, hibiscus, rose, lavender, calendula, butterfly pea, and jasmine. Try crafting your own loose leaf tea blends using some of your favorite edible flowers. Each flower has its own magical properties, so align your flowers with your intentions and then drink up!
4. Flower Sprays
Flower magic is so versatile. It can be used directly on your person OR around the house and sacred space. One of my favorite ways to use flowers in my craft is by making flower infusions then adding that infusion to a spray bottle. Next, take that spray bottle and spritz your home: furniture, curtains, altar, carpets and more! An infusion of rosebuds and lavender brings peace and harmony to the home. An infusion of basil and chamomile brings money!
5. Flower Bouquets
While it seems simple, just having flowers around is an easy way to incorporate their magic into your craft. In the Spring and Summer, I enjoy keeping a fresh flower bouquet on my altars and on my dining room table. The cheery color of flowers, their scent, and their energy liven up the home and bring smiles to faces.
6. Flower Spells in the Kitchen
Did you know there are edible flowers that you can cook with? Here are a few ideas. In the Southeast U.S., Spanish needles grow abundantly. The flower heads have a peppery-taste and can be thrown into a salad for a magical treat. In addition hibiscus, honeysuckle, pansies, sunflowers and violets can all be added to salads, soups, stews, meat dishes, and desserts of all kinds. Align your culinary flowers with your intentions for extra power. I.E. sunflower petals added to a chicken dish in the Fall brings prosperity.
7. Flower Infused Magical Oils
One of my favorite magical supplies to make is herbal infused oil. Flowers can be added to oils in addition to herbs for specific magical purposes. For example, to make a money oil for money magic, infuse basil, chamomile (flower), and mint into jojoba oil. Set in a dark, cool space for one lunar cycle, then strain out the herbs and flowers. Anoint money, wallets, candles, and more for powerful money magic.
8. Flower Spell Wreath
Similar to making fresh flower crowns to wear on your head, make a flower spell wreath for your front door. While you weave or adhere each flower to your magical wreath, visualize your intentions manifesting in reality. For Spring, make a flower spell wreath of white, pink, and yellow flowers to invite in good vibrations and fresh Spring energy.
9. Magic Circles with Flowers
Are you able to perform rituals outdoors OR in a space with a hard floor? Mark out your magic circle using flower petals or flower buds. I’ve even seen small vases or bottles of flowers marking the four points of a magic circle. Using flowers in this way brings a special lively energy to a Spring or Summer circle.
Will different kinds of sage work for spells
Yes, any kind of sage works for purification/cleansing and spells. White or culinary.