Herbal Correspondences for the Zodiac Signs
A list of herbs matching the planetary and elemental qualities of the zodiac signs. I wish I could tell you that there is a consensus amongst herbalists, but there really is not. Experiment, divine, and use your own intuition.
Aries
- Allspice
- Carnation
- Cedarwood
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Copal
- Cumin
- Deerstongue
- Dragon’s blood resin
- Fennel
- Frankincense
- Galangal
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Holly
- Horseradish
- Juniper
- Marjoram
- Musk
- Nettle
- Pepper
- Peppermint
- Pine (*I disagree)
- Thistle
Personal Note: I would add Rowan and Rue.
Masculine; the planet Mars. Affects the head and face. This sign rules over many of the same plants ruled by Mars, including cacti, garlic, hops, mustard, nettle, onion, peppers, radish; others are betony, lichens, and rosemary.
Taurus
- Apple Blossom
- Cardamom
- Coltsfoot
- Daisy
- Fern
- Honeysuckle
- Lady’s mantle
- Lilac
- Linden
- Magnolia
- Myrtle
- Oakmoss
- Orchid
- Orris
- Patchouli
- Plumeria
- Rose
- Sage
- Thyme
- Tonka
- Vanilla
- Violet
*Personal Note:I would add Mugwort and Cowslip.
Feminine, the planet Venus. Affects the throat and neck. Rules over many planets of Venus, plus lovage and plants of the earth, such as mushrooms.
Gemini
- Almond
- Anise
- Bergamot
- Citron
- Clove (*I disagree)
- Clover
- Dill
- Elemi
- Horehound
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Lily
- Mace
- Mastic
- Meadowsweet
- Mullein
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Peppermint
- Thyme
Masculine, the planet Mercury. Affects the hands, arms, shoulders, collarbone, lungs, and nervous system. It rules mosses because it is an airy sign, but also tansy and vervain.
Cancer
- Ambergis
- Calamus
- Camphor
- Caraway
- Catnip
- Cucumber
- Eucalyptus
- Gardenia
- Jasmine
- Lemon
- Lemon balm
- Lilac
- Lotus
- Mugwort
- Myrhh
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Violet
Personal Note: I would add Aloe and Poppy. Maybe Datura.
Feminine, the Moon. Affects the breast and stomach. It rules many plants ruled by the Moon, as both Cancer and the Moon relate to water. Plants are cucumber, lettuce, melons, rushes, water lilies, agrimony, alder, lemon balm, honeysuckle, hyssop, jasmine.
Leo
- Acacia
- Angelica
- Bay laurel
- Benzoin
- Borage
- Cinnamon
- Chamomile
- Copal
- Dandelion
- Eyebright
- Frankincense
- Heliotrope
- Marigold
- Mistletoe
- Musk
- Nutmeg
- Orange
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Sandalwood
Masculine, the Sun. Affects the heart, sides, and upper portion of the back. It rules over many of the same plants as the Sun, and also over chamomile, celandine, European angelica, eyebright, marigold, orange, rue, saffron, borage, bugloss, peony, and poppy.
Personal Note: Poppy is lunar but also annual, thus of the Sun.
Virgo
- Almond
- Bergamot Mint
- Bloodroot
- Calamus
- Chicory
- Cypress
- Dill
- Fennel
- Ginseng
- Honeysuckle
- Lavender
- Lemon verbena
- Lily
- Mace
- Mandrake
- Moss
- Patchouli
- Peppermint
- Skullcap
Feminine, the planet Mercury. Affects the solar plexus and bowels. This zodiac sign is dedicated to Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and thus rules cereal plants: oats, barley, rye, wheat, grasses, and sedge.
Libra
- Apple Blossom
- Carnation
- Catnip
- Foxglove
- Galbanum
- Lilac
- Magnolia
- Marjoram
- Mugwort
- Orchid
- Plumeria
- Rose
- Spearmint
- Strawberry
- Sweet Pea
- Tansy
- Thyme
- Vanilla
- Vervain
- Violet
Masculine, the planet Venus. Affects the kidneys, loin area, ovaries, lower portion of the back. Rules many of the same plants as Venus: apple, cherry, primrose, strawberry, white rose, and violet.
Scorpio
- Allspice
- Amaranth
- Ambergris
- Basil
- Black copal
- Clove
- Cumin
- Deerstongue
- Galangal
- Gardenia
- Ginger
- Lily
- Myrhh
- Patchouli
- Pennyroyal
- Pine
- Storax
- Tarragon
- Valerian
- Vanilla (*I disagree)
- Violet
- Wormwood
Personal Note: I would add Belladonna and Brugmansia.
Feminine, the planet Mars. Affects the bladder and the sex organs. As the ruler of the sex organs, Scorpio governs plants that could be considered phallic symbols such as palms as well as flowers like calla lilies. It also governs basil, bramble, and wormwood.
Sagittarius
- Agrimony
- Anise
- Betony
- Birch (*I disagree)
- Carnation
- Cedarwood
- Clove
- Copal
- Deerstongue
- Dragon’s blood resin
- Eucalyptus
- Hawthorn
- Oak
- Pine (*I disagree)
- Poplar
- Rowan
Masculine, the planet Jupiter. Affects the liver, hips, thighs, and the condition of the blood. As the centaur and ruler of the forests, Sagittarius governs forest trees and catkins. Associated with oak, beech, elm, all the mallows and feverfew.
Capricorn
- Benzoin (*I disagree)
- Cassia
- Comfrey
- Cypress
- Hemlock
- Honeysuckle (*I disagree)
- Magnolia
- Mimosa (*I disagree)
- Myrrh
- Oakmoss
- Patchouli
- Plantain
- Solomon’s seal
- Vervain
- Vertivert
- Witch hazel
Personal Note: I would add Licorice Root, Calamus, Cannabis, Yarrow, Ivy, Pine, and Yew.
Feminine, the planet Saturn. Affects the knees and spleen. Rules over comfrey cypress, hemlock, nightshades, yew, all plants that are also governed by Saturn.
Aquarius
- Acacia
- Almond
- Arabic
- Benzoin
- Citron
- Clove (*I disagree)
- Cypress (*I disagree)
- Lavender
- Mace (*I disagree)
- Mastic
- Mimosa
- Nutmeg (*I disagree)
- Patchpuli (*I disagree)
- Peppermint
- Pine (*I disagree)
- Saint-John’s-wort
- Spikenard
Masculine, the planet Uranus. Affects the calves, ankles, and distribution of body fluids. Rules frankincense and myrrh.
Pisces
- Anise (*I disagree)
- Calamus (*I disagree)
- Catnip
- Clove (*I disagree)
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Gardenia
- Geranium
- Honeysuckle
- Jasmine
- Lemon
- Lobelia
- Lotus
- Mimosa (*I disagree)
- Neroli
- Nutmeg (*I disagree)
- Orris
- Poppy
- Sage
- Sandalwood
- Sarsaparilla
- Star Anise
- Sweet Pea
- Willow
Feminine, the planet Neptune. Rules over algae, seaweed, and water mosses.
Refs:
- The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews by Scott Cunningham
- The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison
- Magical Folkhealing by DJ Conway