Archief Plants - Hagetisse Wise Woman

Agrimony, common, Agrimonia eupatoria L.

This plant can regularly be found along the rivers, waving happily with its long clusters full of yellow flowers. Agrimony is incredibly versatile when it comes to medicinal and magical…

agrimony - agrimonia eupatoria - flower and racerne

Arnica, common, Arnica Montana

Arnica ointment, which naturopath doesn't have it in her arsenal? I certainly do. I also had the pleasure of seeing this cheerful plant in real life in the Drents-Friese Wold.…

Bear’s garlic, Allium ursinum L.

Bear's garlic, also known as wild garlic, is the little brother of garlic. Outwardly, they have some things in common, yet they don't look quite the same. For example, bear's…

bear's garlic - allium ursinum - whole plant

Bistort, Polygonum bistorta L.

As a child I already thought bistort was intriguing, which is why I am writing a monograph about this particular plant and not about the tormentil, Potentilla erecta, a more…

bistort - polygonum bistorta - inflorescence

Celandine, Chelidonium majus

I remember very well that my cousin had a wart and that my grandmother took him towards a plant at the back of the garden. It literally grew in the…

Chamomile, Matricaria recutita

Who hasn't sat on a couch with a cup of chamomile tea in hand? Well, I for sure have. Although it is becoming more and more difficult to find chamomile…

Chicory, Cichorium intybus L.

This beautiful plant with its lively lilac purple flowers is widely applicable. Chicory can be used for medicinal and magical purposes and is also edible. You can even make a…

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale

Where to start when it comes to the dandelion, Taraxacum officinale? Due to the milder climate, this plant nowadays often blooms all year round and thus brightens up many lawn…

Elder, common, Sambucus nigra

One of my favourite trees is definitely the elderberry, Sambucus nigra. It has it all: magical properties, healing properties and it’s even edible. Before the existence of antivirals like Tamiflu,…

elder - sambucus nigra - berries and juice

Garlic, Allium sativum

Garlic is the prototype of the garlic family. You really want to eat this powerhouse plant regularly, because - in addition to numerous medicinal applications - it has general health…

Hawthorn, Crataegus X, monogyna, laevigata

Today I am writing the plant monograph of my favourite tree, the hawthorn. I know this is actually a shrub, but the hawthorns I remember the clearest were so old…

hawthorn - crataegus - leaves and berries

Juniper, Juniperus communis L.

Juniper is such a versatile shrub! You can eat it, distil it into liquor (gin), dye your wool and varnish your furniture with it and much more. In this monograph…

juniper - juniperus communis - needle and berry

Knotweed, Japanese, Polygonum cuspidatum

Japanese knotweed is a plant that not everyone is wholly enthusiastic about. In many articles on knotweed you will also find words like 'aggressive', 'invasive', 'destroy' and 'combat'. I myself…

japanse duizendknoop - polygonum cuspidatum - blad en bloeiwijze

Lady’s mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris L.

Lady's mantle is a plant that initially does not catch your eye because of its beauty. It has no conspicuous inflorescence or colour. And then you look really closely at…

Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia

The first plant of this year is an instant hit! Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is so versatile, you simply have to get this plant into your garden. If not because of…

lavendel - lavandula angustifolia - hele plant

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis L.

When I think of lemon balm, the sun immediately starts to shine. Thing is, I like to put some leaves of this plant in water when the weather is nice,…

Linden tree, Tilia cordata

There are many old linden trees along the street where I currently live. When they're flowering you almost get intoxicated by the deliciously sweet scent. And when you have a…

Mallow, common, Malva sylvestris L.

The common mallow is one of my favourite plants and not only because of its cheerful pink to purple flowers. For a while, I drank many a cup of mallow…

mallow - malva sylvestris - flower and leaf drawing

Marigold, Calendula officinalis

Marigold gives us one last sun salutation before we go into winter. This cheerful plant bravely continues to flower until the moment that night frost arrives. Marigold is famous for…

Monkshood, Aconitum napellus

Anyone who has ever encountered Monkshood in the wild, for example on a mountain somewhere in Central Europe, has probably been deeply impressed by the beauty of this plant. Both…

Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris

As you can see from her Latin name Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort is related to wormwood. In contrast to wormwood, mugwort contains only a little bit of thujone. This makes mugwort…

Nettle, stinging, Urtica dioica L

Everyone has had a run in with the stinging nettle at some point and knows that he lives up to his name. After touching this plant, your skin seems to…

Pansy, wild, Viola tricolor

A monograph that should definitely be among the plants in this vademecum is that of Viola tricolor, or the wild pansy. This plant always reminds me of my mother. Not…

Periwinkle, common, Vinca minor L.

The periwinkle is a popular garden plant. Understandably so, because it's not only an evergreen, it also has very cheerful, purple flowers. And many people consider it an useful border…

periwinkle - vinca minor - flower and leaf

Plantain, ribwort, Plantago lanceolata

Plantain is a plant that you can easily overlook. Her tiny flowers are not very noticeable. But the ribwort plantain - Plantago lanceolata - is more than worthy of a…

plantain - plantago lanceolata - inflorescence

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, like thyme, is so common in our kitchen that we would almost forget that this beautiful, fragrant plant also has medicinal and magical superpowers. Flowering rosemary, with…

Sage, common, Salvia officinalis L.

There are plants which are so versatile that you almost dread starting a monograph on it. Nettle is such a plant and today I am writing about another plant in…

St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum

St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, may not be a plant you immediately think of in winter. This plant is pre-eminently associated with summer and St. John's festivities in June, the…

Sweet flag, Acorus calamus

This versatile, water-loving plant, sweet flag (Acorus calamus) is well established in Europe. However, she isn't native to the continent. Alexander the Great already brought her this way from South…

Thyme, common, Thymus vulgaris L.

Some herbs are well-known because they appear in every spice rack. Thyme is one of them. Originally it was mainly used in the cuisines of the countries around the Mediterranean,…

Thyme - thymus vulgaris - stem and leaves. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=260175

Valerian, Valeriana officinalis L.

Valerian is one of those plants that could be found easily in the area that I grew up in. The moist river clay made this plant feel very much at…

valerian - valeriana officinalis - inflorescence

Vervain, Verbena officinalis L.

When it comes to wise women's herbs, vervain should not be missed. This plant was praised in ancient times for its medicinal and magical properties. Vervain was already seen as…

vervain - verbena officinalis - inflorescense

Willow, white, Salix alba L.

If I had to choose one tree to put in my garden, it would be the willow. She may not be as majestic as other trees, but if you only…

white willow - salix alba - inflorescence

Woodruff, Galium odoratum L.

A dear little plant with great deeds, that is sweet woodruff. With her small flowers and soft green leaves, you would almost overlook her, while she is everywhere. Sweet woodruff…

woodruff - galium odorata - flowers and leaves

Wormwood, Artemisa absinthium L.

I personally think this is a beautiful plant with its fine grey-green mass of leaves, but many would not put this plant in their garden because it does not bloom…

woemwood - artemisia absinthium - dried herb

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a very common plant that you can spot on the roadsides everywhere. It is also a real powerhouse with a lot of uses, both in terms…