Here is a summary of some literature about plants and their elves and spirits. England and Ireland are particularly influenced by the Celtic influence in this context.
Source and further reading T.F. Thiselton Dyer, Folk-lore of Plants, 1889. You are not allowed to view links.
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"Page 42
If we briefly examine the prehistory of plant worship, it appears to form the basis of ancient Celtic beliefs, although few records of this have come down to us.^ In any case, there is ample evidence that this form of belief occupied a prominent position in the religion of these peoples, to which many early classical writers allude. Thus, the very name Druidry is evidence of the Celtic predilection for tree worship, and as further evidence of this, De Brosses^ derived the word "kirk," which today is weakened to "church," from "quercus," an oak; this species was particularly sacred. When examining ancient Germanic beliefs, we also encounter the same references to tree worship, which in many respects differs little or not at all from that of the Celts. To explain this, Mr. Keary suggests that "the nature of the Germanic commandments applies, with only some slight modifications, to the beliefs of the predecessors of the Germans in Northern and Western Europe. Undoubtedly, in prehistoric times, the Germanic tribes and the Celts intermingled so
summary You are not allowed to view links.
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Elves in the meadows, gardens and forests - The elves and the realm of plants
"The gate opens,
Time stands still,
Only those who are honest will fare well"
Plants have a strong connection to the realm of elves and fairies - and flowers and plants often form a bridge between the worlds...
There are legends about the mysterious mandrake and many fairy tales even attribute magical powers to the root. Mistletoe is also known as a magical remedy - the Germanic tribes in particular attributed supernatural powers to the plant. The same goes for the black hellebore, the popular name for the Christmas rose - we also know it as a magical remedy from old fairy tales.
Children once listened to stories in which a nutshell served as a vehicle for the elves... People looked at the foxglove flowers with different eyes: it was thought that the elves used them as swinging colourful skirts. In England, the cowslip was popularly known in some places as the ‘elf's cup’ and in Germany, too, the ‘cowslip’ was a flower that symbolised prosperity and good fortune. Tulips were regarded as cradles for fairy babies. In England, ragwort and cabbage stalks were referred to as ‘horses of the fairies’ and sometimes, it was quietly said, the fairies even took humans with them on their journey. Well, not always voluntarily and often the humans were more or less forced to do so...
So, according to the old legends, the elves had control over certain plants and inexplicable things happened in nature... Nature was full of magic and the boundaries between the realm of the elves and the human world were often blurred...
As the elves and nature beings are so closely connected to the plant kingdom, it is not surprising that people assumed that flowers and trees were under the protection of the Little People. Anyone who wanted to find out more about nature creatures would follow the old legends and look for a four-leaf clover. Because, so it is said, the four-leaf clover brings good luck and leads us to the elves...
In Germany and Scandinavia, it was believed that the rose in particular was under the protection of elves and dwarves. But other plants and even trees were also under their protection: in England and Ireland, hawthorn leaves were not picked as people feared the wrath of the elves. The plant was also called fairy thorn and it was known that the elves protected and loved these trees. Especially old solitary trees on boggy ground, a favoured area for elves, were avoided, as it was considered particularly dangerous to steal leaves from the plants here. At that time, it was also known that elves especially liked to dance around oak trees. In Denmark they say: Whoever stays under an elder tree on midsummer night will see the Elf King with all his entourage at midnight... In Germany, people talked about dwarves, small creatures that are closely connected to the trees.
In Devonshire, England, for example, the chickweed was left to bloom and not touched for fear of the elves' revenge. It is said that the delicate white flowers are under the protection of the fairy kingdom.
Poppies were also said to have magical properties. They are closely associated with sleep and forgetting. Elven magic is therefore also woven around these beautiful, delicate flowers, which often colour entire areas of land in an intense red.
If you are looking for elves, you will find them near flowers, herbs and trees.
In the old days, people were more careful with the gifts of nature. As a child, my mother often told me about my great-grandfather who, before the apple harvest, would stand in front of his beautiful big tree, take off his hat and bow before starting the harvest... In the old days, some fruit was deliberately left on the apple trees during the harvest to appease the elves and allow them their share. In those days, gifts were offered to the elves and people knew exactly what they loved. In Bavaria, for example, farmers would tie small baskets filled with strawberries between the cows' horns.
The fine fragrant herbs are also among the favourites of the elves - herbs provide healing, the right spice and aroma. In ancient times, herbs were sacred - they occupy a very special place in the realm of plants. Ancient legends and myths say that wild thyme and rosemary in particular are among the elves' favourite plants.
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