Folkloric Names of Common Herbs
Older, folkloric names for herbs, flowers, and trees were often symbolic and intentionally cryptic. Here is a list to refer to when perusing older herbal texts, compendiums, and grimoires.
- Adam and Eve: Lungwort
- Adder’s Mouth: Stitch Wort
- Adder’s Tongue: Dogstooth Violet
- Albanum: Frankincense
- Ass’ Ear: Comfrey
- Bear’s Ear: Auricula
- Bear’s Foot: Stinking Hellebore
- Beehive: Snail Plant
- Beggar’s Tick: Cuckhold
- Bird’s Eye: False Hellebore
- Bird’s Tongue: European Ash
- Bloody Fingers: Foxglove
- Bull’s Eyes: Marsh Marigold
- Bull’s Foot: Coltsfoot
- Calf’s Snout: Toadflax
- Candlemas Maiden: Snowdrop
- Candlewick Plant: Mullein
- Catgut: Hoary Pea
- Cat’s Eye Star: Scabious
- Cat’s Foot: Canada Snake Root
- Cat’s Foot/Paw: Ground Ivy
- Cat’s Milk Wartwort
- Chicken Toe: Crawley Root
- Cock’s Comb: Yellow Rattle
- Cow’s Tail: Canada Fleabane
- Crow Foot: Cranesbill
- Crown for a King: Wormwood
- Devil’s Milk: Wartwort
- Dew of the Sea: Rosemary
- Dog’s Tongue: Hound’s Tongue
- Donkey’s Eyes: Cowage Plant
- Dove’s Foot: Cranesbill
- Dragon’s Claw: Crowley Root
- Dragon’s Eye: Nephalium Loganum
- Dragonwort: Bistort
- Duck’s Foot: American Mandrake
- Dwale: Deadly Nightshade
- Earth Smoke: Fumitory
- Elfwort: Elecampane
- Enchanter’s Plant: Vervain
- Eye of the Star: Horehound
- Fairy Fingers/Gloves: Foxglove
- Five Finger Grass: Cinquefoil
- Flesh and Blood: Tormentil
- Foal’s Foot: Coltsfoot
- Fox Tail: Club Moss
- Frog’s Foot: Bulbous Buttercup
- Garden Heliotrope: Valerian
- Goat’s Beard: Vegetable Oyster
- Goat’s Foot: Ash Weed
- Golden Star: Avens
- Hare’s Foot: Clover
- Hedgehogs: Medicago Intertexta
- Honey Lotus: Melilot
- Horse Tail: Scouring Rush
- Horse Tongue: Hart’s Tongue
- Hound’s Tongue: Vanilla Leaf
- Joy of the Mountains: Marjoram
- Khus Khus: Vetivert
- Lamb’s Tongue: Ribwort Plantain
- Little Dragon: Tarragon
- Lizard’s Tail: Breast Weed
- Lizard’s Tongue: Sauroglossum
- Love-In-Idleness: Pansy
- Love Parsley: Lovage
- Loveroot: Orris Root
- Low John: Galangal
- Maiden’s Ruin/Lad’s Love: Southernwood
- Master of the Woods: Woodruff
- Masterwort: Angelica
- May Lily: Lily of the Valley
- Mistress of the Night: Shepherd’s Purse
- Moonlight on the Grove: Jasmine
- Mother’s Heart: Tuberose
- Mouse Ear: Mouse Blood Wort
- Mouse Tail: Common Stonecrop
- Mugwort: French Lily
- Old Man’s Beard: Fringe Tree
- Ox Tongue: Bugloss
- Password: Primrose
- Queen of the Meadow: Meadowsweet
- Rabbit’s Foot: Field Clover
- Ram’s Head: American Valerian
- Rat’s Tail: Cat Tail
- Ruddes: Marigold
- Seven Year’s Love: Yarrow
- Shepherd’s Heart: Shepherd’s Purse
- Sleep Wort: Lettuce
- Snake Head: Balmony
- Snake Milk:Blooming Spurge
- Snake’s Tongue, Adder’s Tongue: Fern
- Sorcerer’s Violet: Periwinkle
- Squirrel Ear: White Plantain
- Stag Horn Club Moss
- Starflower: Borage
- Star of the Earth: Avens
- Starweed: Chickweed
- Starwort: Aster
- Stinking Goose Foot: Chenopodium
- Swine Snout: Dandelion
- Thousand Seal: Yarrow
- Thunder Plant: Houseleek
- Toad: Toadflax
- Unicorn Horn: True Unicorn Root
- Wax Dolls: Fumitory
- Witch Aspirin: White Willow Bark
- Witch Bells: Foxglove
- Witch Brier: Brier Hips
- Witch Grass: Dog Grass
- Witch Herb: Mugwort
- Witch Wood: Rowan
- Wolf’s Claw: Lycopodium
- Wolf’s Foot: Bugle Weed
Ref: Magical Folkhealing by D.J. Conway