Botanicals

The herb cabinet

62 plants. The subject list was audited against the public Flint & Flicker herb cabinet. The writing here is original.

A candlelit apothecary cabinet of dried herbs.

Each entry separates a physical description from magical attribution, names a safety limit, and offers one original working. Nothing here is a prescription. Toxic plants are not given as teas, smokes, or baths.

Read Safety first before you burn, brew, or wear anything.

Earth

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Fire

Allspice

Pimenta dioica

Water

Aloe

Aloe vera (syn. Aloe barbadensis); several related Aloe species are sold under the same common name

Fire

Angelica

Angelica archangelica; other Angelica species are not identical

Air

Anise

Pimpinella anisum

Water

Apple

Malus domestica, a complex cultivated hybrid; other Malus species are crabapples and ornamentals

Fire

Basil

Ocimum basilicum and its culinary cultivars

Fire

Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis

Water

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Fire

Cedar

True cedars are Cedrus spp.; cedar is also applied to Thuja, Juniperus virginiana, and other trees that are not Cedrus

Water

Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile; syn. Matricaria recutita) and Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile)

Fire

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum × morifolium and related Chrysanthemum species; pyrethrum is often Tanacetum, a different genus

Fire

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) and Cinnamomum cassia (cassia), among other Cinnamomum species sold as cinnamon

Fire

Clove

Syzygium aromaticum

Earth

Clover

Trifolium species, especially Trifolium pratense (red clover) and Trifolium repens (white clover)

Earth

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale; Russian comfrey and hybrids such as Symphytum × uplandicum are also common

Air

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale aggregate; many microspecies exist

Fire

Dill

Anethum graveolens

Water

Elderflower

Sambucus nigra flowers; other Sambucus species are not automatically the same

Air

Eucalyptus Leaf

Eucalyptus species, often Eucalyptus globulus in commerce; many species exist

Fire

Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare

Fire

Frankincense

Boswellia sacra and related Boswellia species

Fire

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Fire

Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus laevigata, and other Crataegus species

Fire

Holly

Ilex aquifolium and other Ilex species

Earth

Honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum and other Lonicera species; invasive Lonicera japonica is not invited

Air

Hops

Humulus lupulus

Fire

Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis

Water

Ivy

Hedera helix

Water

Jasmine

Jasminum officinale and Jasminum grandiflorum; other Jasminum species differ

Fire

Juniper

Juniperus communis and other Juniperus species; savin (Juniperus sabina) is not a substitute

Earth

Knotweed

Reynoutria japonica

Air

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Air

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Air

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Water

Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Air

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Fire

Marigold

Calendula officinalis

Air

Mint

Mentha spicata

Water

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Water

Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris

Air

Mulberry Leaf

Morus alba

Fire

Nettle

Urtica dioica

Fire

Nutmeg

Myristica fragrans

Earth

Oak

Quercus robur

Air

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Earth

Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin

Fire

Peppermint

Mentha × piperita

Fire

Pine

Pinus sylvestris

Earth

Plantain

Plantago major

Water

Rose

Rosa gallica

Fire

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Earth

Garden Sage

Salvia officinalis

Earth

Senna

Senna alexandrina

Fire

St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum

Earth

Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

Air

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Earth

Vervain

Verbena officinalis

Water

White Willow Bark

Salix alba

Water

Willow

Salix caprea

Fire

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

Air

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium