#dittany

Plant of the Day

Sunday 7 June 2026

This is the perennial Dictamnus albus (burning bush, candle plant, dittany, fire plant, fraxinella, gas plant, spitfire plant) which has white flowers but there is also a purple flowered form Dictamnus albus var. purpureus. It has highly aromatic, dark green leaves and the whole plant becomes covered in a volatile oil which can be ignited resulting in a flash of flame in hot weather.

From: Maund, B. (Benjamin), 1790-1863. The botanic garden. London : George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, 1878

Scientific Name : Origanum dictamnus

Also known as : Dittany of Crete, Cretan dittany, Hop marjoram, Vrastari, Winter Sweet

Properties : Although through history it has been seen as a magical healing herb, modern testing has not found any useful properties. It is used primarily now for cooking.

Uses : Used to flavour both vermouth and absinthe. Culinary uses, Gastric Ulcers. Burned loose as an incense.

Try It : Love spell, simply burn Dittany on a charcoal disc with dragons blood. The smoke will form the face of your intended love.

Warnings : Nil

Parts used: Leaves and Flowers

Magic : Love spells, Gender Identity spells, Spirit Manifestations.

Planet : Venus

Element : Air

Deities : Diktynna (Cretan Goddess), Persephone and Orris

Folklore : Known in Crete as an aphrodisiac lovers would climb into the mountains and gouges to pick the herb that grows naturally in the rock face, sadly plenty have fallen to their deaths over the years trying to pick it. If you didn’t want to risk the climb you could hire a “Love Collector” to pick it for you. Famed for healing in Harry Potter dittany actually got its reputation from goats. Aristotle noticed that if shot with an arrow goats would go in search of the herb, who would then be magically healed. The arrow being pushed back out the skin. The flowers are hermaphrodite having both male and female organs.

Plant Tips : Perennial that grows on the island of Crete in the mountains, grows 20-30cm. It grows well up to 1800m in the windy mountains