Plant Lore of Great Britain - The Quiet Magic of Vervain

by Clare Lesley Hughes

I wondered long and hard about which plant to focus on for this edition of Pagans of the  North. I considered St John’s Wort, with its association with St John’s Day (24th June), and  meadowsweet also came to mind. However, neither of these plants quite felt right. And so,  I’ve chosen to talk about Vervain, a plant also linked to St John’s Day, Litha, and the  Summer Solstice.  

Vervain (Verbena officinalis), also known as Herb of Enchantment, Simplers Joy or Holy  Herb, is not strictly native to Britain. It is classed as an archaeophyte: a plant introduced to  the UK between the Neolithic period and 1500 AD. Vervain thrives in open habitats like  rough grassland and scrub, especially in chalky soil, and it provides a useful source of  pollen for many pollinating insects. With its tall, slender stems and clusters of tiny purple  flowers, it may not immediately draw the eye, but it carries a sacred history and a rich  tapestry of folklore that spans the Druids, Romans, and Egyptians. It is even woven into  Christian lore, said to have been used during the crucifixion of Christ, and appears  frequently in English medieval texts. 

The Druids considered Vervain to be highly sacred. They used it to bless sacred spaces  and saw it as an essential ingredient for opening rites. Vervain oil was used for spiritual  anointment, and the herb is said to be an ingredient in Cerridwen’s Brew, a potion used to  bless Bards. In modern Druidic practice, Vervain is still believed to stimulate the flow of  ‘Awen’, the spirit or essence of life. Likewise, the Romans also held Vervain in high esteem  with priests who were tasked with advising the Roman Senate on matters of war and  peace wearing crowns woven from this plant. In Egyptian mythology, the plant was sacred  to the goddess Isis, who is said to have wept Vervain tears over the death of her husband,  Osiris. Christian legend also has Vervain being used to staunch Christ’s wounds, earning it  names such as Holy Herb or Herb of the Cross. 

In English medieval texts, Vervain appears often, associated with prophesying, protection,  antidotes to poison, and as an aphrodisiac. It was both a witch’s ally in spell craft and a  protective tool to guard against witchcraft, as the old saying goes: “Vervain and Dill, hinder  witches from their will.” Gathering the herb was considered especially auspicious at  Midsummer (hence its inclusion in this issue), and under specific astronomical and ritual  conditions. The Roman scholar and naturalist Pliny described the proper harvesting rite:  “Vervain should be harvested at the rising of the Dog Star, without being seen by sun or  moon. Beforehand, atonement must be made to the Earth with an offering of honeycomb  and honey. A circle should be drawn around the plant with iron, and it must be pulled from  the ground with the left hand, then raised aloft. The leaves, stem, and root should be dried  separately, in the shade.” 

During the Elizabethan era, the harvesting of Vervain was accompanied by a chant or  prayer, which went like this: “Al-hale, thou holy herb, Vervin, Growing on the ground; On  the Mount of Calvary, There was thou found; 

Thou helpest many a grief, And stanchest many a wound. In the name of sweet Jesus, I  take thee from the ground.” By the mid-nineteenth century, Vervain was still considered a  potent herb, and it was believed that hanging a piece of Vervain around a child’s neck  would protect them from infection. Likewise, Vervain leaves kept in a black silk bag were  said to strengthen weakly children. In today’s society, Vervain is often used to soothe 

nervous energy and its associated complaints; insomnia, tension headaches, and stress related digestive issues. It is a gentle, grounding remedy for when the world feels  overwhelming, and you need to return your focus inward and tend to your inner self. 

So, next time you pass by this humble, easily overlooked plant, take a moment to pause.  Vervain may not shout for attention, but it carries centuries of story, ritual, and reverence in  its slender stems. 

References 

Hatfield, G., 2009. Hatfield's Herbal: The Curious Stories of Britain's Wild Plants. Penguin  UK. 

Johansen, M.S. and Weil, M.S., 2009. Magiferous Plants in Medieval English Herbalism. 

Lawrence, S., 2020. Kew-Witch's Garden: Plants in Folklore, Magic and Traditional  Medicine. Hachette UK. 

Verbena officinalis L. in BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020, eds P.A. Stroh, T. A. Humphrey, R.J.  Burkmar, O.L. Pescott, D.B. Roy, & K.J. Walker. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/ 2cd4p9h.m71 [Accessed 12/05/2025] 

Vickery, R., 2019. Vickery's Folk Flora: An AZ of the Folklore and Uses of British and Irish  Plants. Hachette UK.