When it comes to legends and myths in the plant world, there is a lot of advice floating around, and not all of it is rooted in reality. I have read scientific studies and publications on the topic, and I have also shared suggestions with my large plant-loving community. Throughout history, people have created and shared myths and legends about plants, giving them meanings and values beyond their physical appearance or function. In this article, we will explore some of the most fascinating plant myths and legends from around the world, and learn how they reflect the beliefs, values, and emotions of different people and times.
Plants in Greek Mythology
Whether you are a plant lover, a history buff, or a curious reader, you will find something interesting and inspiring in this comprehensive guide. Because of this devotion, several myths and stories have developed; read on to find out about some of the most fascinating ones.
This is what I’ve learned so far…
The Legend Of Daphne
This is a genus of flowering plants that includes the laurel, the bay, and the oleander. The name comes from the nymph Daphne, who was pursued by the god Apollo. To escape his advances, she prayed to her father, the river god Peneus, who turned her into a laurel tree. Apollo then made the laurel his sacred plant and wore a wreath of its leaves on his head.
The Legends and Myths of Narcissus Plants
Narcissus: This is a genus of bulbous plants that includes the daffodil, the jonquil, and the paperwhite. The name comes from the young Narcissus, who was so handsome that he rejected all his suitors. One day, he saw his own reflection in a pool of water and fell in love with it. He could not tear himself away from the image, and he eventually died of starvation. A flower sprouted from his grave, which bore his name.
The Myths of Hyacinth
This is a genus of perennial plants that includes the hyacinth, the grape hyacinth, and the bluebell. The god Apollo adored the young man Hyacinth, hence the name. One day, they were playing a game of discus when Apollo accidentally hit Hyacinth with the discus and killed him. From his blood, a flower grew, which Apollo inscribed with the letters “AI AI”, meaning “alas” in Greek.
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The Legend of the Lotus
- This is a genus of aquatic plants that includes the lotus, the water lily, and the water chestnut. The name comes from the fruit of the lotus, which was said to grow on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. The fruit had a sweet and intoxicating taste, which made anyone who ate it forget their home and stay on the island. This happened to some of the sailors of Odysseus, who had to drag them back to their ship.
These are just some of the many examples of plants in Greek mythology. You can find more information and sources at the end of this post.
Myth: Bottom watering is the most effective method
If it’s helping you, that’s fine. But if you’ve never taken care of plants before, top-watering will help a lot. The same is true if you always overwater plants or have plants with root rot.
According to urban legend, submerging the plant in water causes its roots to actively seek out and consume the liquid. It’s not like that at all. The soil itself is absorbing all of the water. The roots will then occasionally absorb moisture from the soil. Bottom watering causes the soil to get oversaturated and absorb much more water than top watering does if the pot is submerged in water.
The Legend: Jack And The Beanstalk
When Jack, a poor farm lad, swaps the family cow for a bag of magic beans, the beans sprout into a giant beanstalk that reaches for the sky. After making his way up the beanstalk, Jack finds himself in the fortress of a ferocious giant.
Fee-fi-fo-fum!
I smell the blood of an Englishman.
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.
Jack manages to outsmart the giant and win back many of the items that had been taken from his family, including a bag of gold, an enchanted goose that lays golden eggs, and a magic golden harp that plays and sings on its own. After this, Jack is able to get away by cutting down the bean stalk. In the end, when the giant who was after him trips and dies, Jack and his family’s fortunes improve.
Plant myths And Legends: The Aconite Plant
This modest purple bloom seems quite sweet and harmless. Some other names for aconite include “plant arsenic,” “queen of poisons,” and “wolf’s bane.” and there’s a hidden meaning in all these popular names. Another common name for this plant is. If you’re acquainted with Greek mythology, you’ll recognize the name Hecate as the witch’s creator or goddess.
For this reason, aconite had great notoriety among witches. Medea, the famous witch who attempted to poison Theseus, was one of them. Athena also used aconite to transform Arachne into a spider. Both Greek mythology and Germanic tales attest to the plant’s transformative powers. The Berserks, for instance, turned into werewolves after consuming aconite.
The Myth: Keeping to a strict watering schedule is essential
Most people believe that when you buy a houseplant, you just read the instructions on the tag and follow them to the letter. If it’s particularly warm and the light levels are perfect, it may require watering every other day. Or, if the lighting conditions are poor, it may require watering once a month.
Depending on what you find, some of your plants may require watering while others may not.
Myth: The Bluebell flower campanula Brings impending Death
Bluebell woodlands were said to be bewitched by wicked fairies. People should avoid these forests at all costs due to the presence of fairies, who will confuse them and drive them to wander aimlessly.
This flower is steeped in myth and legend. People in Devonshire have a superstition that says bad things will happen if you bring a bluebell inside. Those beliefs also include the concept of death. For instance, one of them claims that if a youngster takes the flower, they would vanish.
The sound of bluebell bells is also associated with impending death, according to another myth.
Plants that are Associated with Luck or Love
Some plants are believed to bring good fortune or attract romance, and some of them have symbolic meanings or stories. Many cultures have traditions or rituals involving plants, and some of them are based on their appearance, color, or fragrance. Here are some examples of plants that are associated with luck or love and their myths or legends:
Bamboo: The Plant of Happiness
This is a plant that is considered to be lucky in many Asian cultures and is often given as a gift or used as a decoration. It is said to represent the five elements of Feng Shui: wood, water, earth, fire, and metal. According to legend, it was created by a Chinese emperor who wanted to make a flute that could produce beautiful music. He searched for the perfect material and found a bamboo stalk that had been hollowed out by a woodpecker. He carved holes on it and played it, and the sound was so enchanting that it attracted birds and animals. Bamboo is also called the “plant of happiness” by some cultures, as it can grow fast and strong and bend without breaking.
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Rose: The Flower of Romance
Rose: This is a flower that is widely regarded as a symbol of love and beauty and is often used as a gift or a gesture of affection. It is said to represent the heart, the soul, or the emotions of the giver or the receiver. According to legend, it was created by the goddess Venus who sprinkled nectar on a white flower and turned it red with her blood. She did this to express her love for her lover Adonis, who was wounded by a wild boar. Rose is also called the “flower of romance” by some cultures, as it can evoke or enhance feelings of love and desire.
Clover: The Plant of Faith
Clover: This is a plant that is known for its four-leafed variety that is said to bring good luck and happiness. It is often used as a charm or a talisman by people who want to find or increase their fortune. According to legend, it was used by St. Patrick to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. He picked a three-leafed clover and showed it to them, saying that it had one stem but three leaves, just like God had one essence but three persons. Clover is also called the “plant of faith” by some cultures, as it can symbolize or inspire hope and trust.
Plants like these are only a few of the numerous that have romantic or lucky associations. Below you may discover more resources and data.
The legend of johnny appleseed
Johnny Appleseed (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845) was an American pioneer nurseryman who spread apple trees to significant portions of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and present-day Ontario, as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia. While he was still living, his good deeds, conservation efforts, and the symbolic value he placed on apples caused him to become a national hero.
On September 26, 1774,[3] John Chapman entered the world as the second child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Chapman in Leominster, Massachusetts. The myth of Johnny Appleseed has him dispersing apple seeds at will.
In Ohio, an accident almost took the life of Chapman. While harvesting his crops in a tree one morning, he slipped and fell, he was caught on the fork of a tree, neck first. John White, age 8, one of his assistants, came saw him struggling in the tree not long after he fell. Young John White, saved Chapman’s life by chopping down a tree after they were unable to rescue him from its tangle.
On another occasion, he purportedly prepared a fire in the midst of a snowstorm so that he could spend the night in a hollow log, only to find that a mother bear and her cubs were already using the space. Instead of disturbing the bear, he relocated his fire to the other end of the cave and slept on the snow outside.
He passed away in 1846 or 1848, close to Fort Wayne, Indiana, a stranger among strangers.
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Plants with Healing Properties
Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, and some of them have mythical origins or stories. Many cultures believed that plants had healing powers, and some of them were attributed to divine or supernatural beings. Here are some examples of plants that have healing properties and their myths or legends:
Aloe Vera: The Plant of Immortality
This is a succulent plant that is known for its soothing and moisturizing effects on the skin and hair. It is widely used in cosmetics, medicine, and food. According to legend, it was a gift from the goddess Aphrodite to her son Aesculapius, the god of medicine. She taught him how to use the plant to heal wounds and diseases, and he became famous for his skills. Aloe vera is also called the “plant of immortality” by some cultures, as it can survive in harsh conditions and regenerate from a single leaf.
Ginseng: The Root of Life
This is a root that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its benefits on energy, immunity, and longevity. It is also considered a symbol of prosperity and harmony. A divine farmer saw a man-shaped root in his field and decided to cultivate it, according to legend. He found out that the root had miraculous effects on his health and vitality, and he shared it with his neighbors. Ginseng is also called the “root of life” by some cultures, as it can grow for hundreds of years and adapt to different environments.
Lavender: The Herb of Love
This is a herb that is popular for its calming and relaxing aroma and its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is often used in aromatherapy, massage, and bath products. According to legend, it was used by the Virgin Mary to wash the clothes of Jesus and acquired its sweet scent from her touch. Lavender is also called the “herb of love” by some cultures, as it can attract or enhance romance and passion.
These are just some of the many examples of plants with healing properties. You can find more information and sources here.
Legend human-eating plants
Some supposedly man-eating plant species are examined here. But are they really interested in eating people? So, let’s find out!
Even though it is one of the biggest and most fragrant plants in the plant world, just one glimpse at it is enough to send you running. This plant seems like it could easily swallow a person because of its enormous size. When these gorgeous plants have matured to a height of nine feet and are in full bloom, they emit a stench similar to that of a combination of human waste and a decomposing body.
Attracting carrion beetles and flesh flies, it now feeds on insects trapped in its digestive enzymes. Another intriguing fact is that it may grow up to 4 inches each day while digesting its meal.
Some of the biggest carnivorous plants ever found are pitcher plants. Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s biggest examples. The vines may extend upwards of 50 feet by themselves. Some of the monster’s pitchers are four quarts in capacity and measure a full foot in length.
Those pitchers are reused for boiling rice in Asia, and the vines are recycled into ropes.
Read more exciting content: The Mystery of Carnivorous Plants, Why These Plants Will Bite you!
Myth: Tap water is bad for plants
The water that comes out of the tap is completely safe to use on houseplants. The one and only exception to this rule are carnivorous plants, which can only survive with water that comes from natural sources such as rain, rivers, or ponds. The quantities of chlorine that are found in tap water are far lower than any level that might have an effect on your indoor plants.
As it turns out, chlorine is an essential component for plant growth. It’s natural, and plants need it to thrive. Some of you may leave water out overnight. Since water is evaporating, all it does is concentrate the minerals already there. It’s fantastic if you can collect rainwater. However, I use regular tap water to cultivate even the rarest of plants.
Myth: You must mist your plants
If it brings you pleasure and peace of mind, by all means continue. It’s important to note that it is not increasing humidity. Not allowing the water to evaporate from the leaf might lead to issues like fungus growth. What little humidity our homes naturally provide is plenty for the plants we have on hand. Keeping stuff out and water in is the primary function of a leaf.
Read more related content : Blossoming Winter and Summer Flowers: What You Need to Know.
Myth: Homemade Fertilizer Is Usually Better
As Far As plant myths and legends go, this really bothers me. There is no use in wasting time or money making homemade fertilizers. Sometimes it might be so intense that it burns the plant.
The peel of a banana, for example, may be used to fertilize indoor plants. People wrongly believe that since bananas are high in potassium that their plants would also benefit greatly from consuming them. Despite the fact that the skin contains no potassium at all, it is still not what plants want. Plants need a fertilizer with the right mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) in order for them to prosper.
Too much of even a single vitamin might prevent your houseplant from taking in any nutrients as all, an issue known as “nutrient lock.” Since houseplants cannot easily acquire natural fertilizers, a synthetic natural mix fertilizer is recommended.
Final Thoughts on Plant Myths And Legends
We have seen that plants are not only living organisms, but also sources of myths and legends that enrich our culture and imagination. Plants have stories to tell, and they can teach us about ourselves and our world. Whether you believe in them or not, plant myths and legends can inspire you to appreciate the beauty and diversity of nature, and to connect with your own beliefs, values, and emotions. Do you have any favorite plant myths or legends? Do you have any personal experiences with plant myths or legends? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below. If you want to learn more about plant myths and legends, you can check out these books and websites:
- The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird
- The Meaning of Flowers: Myth, Language & Lore by Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field
- The Mythology of Plants: Botanical Lore from Ancient Greece and Rome by Annette Giesecke
- Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics by Richard Folkard
- Plant Myths and Traditions in India by Shakti M. Gupta
Thank you for reading this article on plant myths and legends. We hope you enjoyed it and learned something new.
More Fun With Legendary Plants
Now that you know which plants are famous for a reason, here are some more articles that can spark your curiosity.
