~ BlackBerry ~

Celtic - fairy fruit and may bring bad luck to people who eat them

~ Rosemary ~

Greek - protects against evil spirits and worn to protect against memory loss by Greek scholars

European - when placed under the pillow of an unmarried woman, she would witness prophetic dreams of her future husband

Hungary - thought to cure a crippled Queen Elizabeth when a rosemary oil and alcohol mixture was rubbed into her joints

“At funerals, fresh sprigs were tossed into the grave as a sign that the departed would not be forgotten. Even today, rosemary is offered as a symbol of love, friendship, and remembrance.“ - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Garlic ~

European - A powerful ward against devils, werewolves, and vampires. Garlic could be worn on one's person, hung in windows, or rubbed on chimneys and keyholes

~ Oregano ~

Greek and Roman - happiness and joy; new couples wore wreaths of oregano on their heads at their weddings to grantee future joy, and oregano growing on a grave was an indication of a happy afterlife for the deceased.

~ Dill ~

European(?) - believed to possess magical powers and could destroy evil spells and a drink made from dill leaves was the remedy witchcraft-induced curses

Roman - if eaten it would increase valor and courage

((UNKNOWN)) - chewed by children to keep them quiet and at peace during religious ceremonies. It is also said to help keep adults awake during such ceremonies

~ Thyme ~

European - Collecting thyme flowers from hillsides where fairies live and then rubbing the flowers on one’s eyelids may make it so that they would be able to see fairies.

“In Victorian times, thyme was placed under pillows for prophetic dreams and to improve memory. Thyme was also potted with other herbs as a form of divination. Each pot was assigned the name of a desired lover and the plants that grew the fastest and the strongest would predict the love match.“ - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Angelica ~

European - appears in dreams as a warding off of evil and curing of the plague, can be used in herbal baths to purify and remove curses 

“Sprinkling the leaves and flowers around the outside of the home is thought to protect against evil spirits. It is also used to make exorcism incense.“ - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Sage ~

Egyptian - ceremonially used to mummify bodies; protects against magic, fire and hail, as well in easing the birth and conception

France - used to ease grief

~ Nettle ~

Norse - Thor represented by nettles 

“burning them on the fire will protect you from his lightening during thunderstorms” - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Elder/Elderberry ~

“In some areas it was thought that the elder tree could ward off evil influence and give protection from witches. Other stories say that witches often congregate under the plant, especially when it is full of berries. Some traditions believe that if you cut an elder tree and use the wood for bonfires, you will be cursed. If an elder tree was cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge. However, the tree could be safely cut if you chanted a special rhyme to the Elder Mother.“  - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Hawthorne ~

Celtic - one of the most sacred trees and symbolizes love and protection

European(?) - “Oak, ash, and hawthorn, when growing naturally together, create a place where it is easy to see the fairies. Hawthorns were once believed to be the transformed bodies of witches, who had shapeshifted into tree form. Others believed that the spirit seen in the Hawthorn was that of a dryad or wood nymph.” - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Fennel ~

European - “During the Middle Ages, fennel was hung above doorways and on rafters to ward off the devil. Fennel seeds were also placed inside keyholes in order to prevent ghosts from entering the house.” - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Elecampane ~

Gaelic - attracts the Aos Sí when spread around the home; added to spells can invoke the blessings of fairies

~ Heather ~

European(?) - “Heather is said to ignite fairy passions and open portals between their world and our own.” - Mountain Rose Herbs

~ Roses ~

Greek - “According to myth, the first roses did not have thorns. While Venus’ son Cupid smelled a rose, a bee came out and stung him on the lip. Venus then strung his bow with bees. She removed their stingers and placed them on the stems of the roses. Myth also says that every rose was white until Venus punctured her foot on a thorny briar and some of the white petals were dyed red with her blood.” - Mountain Rose Herbs

Also widely known to attract fairies when placed in a garden

~ Basil ~

Hindu - Tulsi, Tulasi or Vrinda (Holy Basil) is seen as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi

British - used in place of a bible during oath

~ Cilantro ~

Egypt - food in the afterlife gifted to the deceased

~ Myrtle ~

Greek - herb of love; sacred to Aphrodite and Demeter

“The Greeks believed a myrtle garland signified the same as an olive garland, except that it was especially auspicious for farmers because of Demeter and for women because of Aphrodite.“ - Jekka‘s(Herb Farm)

~ Heartsease ~

Egyptian - originated from the tears of Isis

Greek - worshiped by Eros; to inhibit this worship, Aphrodite colored them, which resulted in tricolor coloration

Roman - “ turned into the Love-in-idleness as Cupid shot one of his arrows at the imperial votary, but missed and struck the flower. As Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love, the flower’s juice received the trait to act as love potion and the flower ‘before milk-white’ turned ‘purple with love’s wound’ “  - Jekka‘s(Herb Farm)

Greek and Roman priests both wore amulets made of it because of its aespects of purification and protection, and the Romans also used it to purify their altars after sacrifices.

~ Amaranth ~

Greek - symbolizes immortality; known as "one that does not wither"

https://www.jekkas.com/blogs/jekkas-blog/the-myth-magic-and-folklore-of-herbs

https://www.gardencityharvest.org/the-real-dirt-garden-city-harvest-blog/2015/07/22/the-folklore-of-herbs

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-folktales

And here is a website of links leading to general lore on many different kinds of herbs!: http://www.ourherbgarden.com/herb-history.html