In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Pagan spirituality and magic (commonly spelled ‘magick’ in said communities). For many, a desire to live in closer connection with the natural world or the search for a personal spiritual practice has led them to explore and embrace ancient pagan traditions.
Whether it be a clearly defined practice, such as Neo-paganism or a loose personal interpretation, the Pagans of old have become a popular resource for people exploring spirituality today.
A number of these traditions use herbs, but not everyone comes into their newfound spirituality knowing how to grow them.
Many a budding green witch has found their thumb to be the least green part of their practice.
As a gardener, I can’t give you an incantation to banish negative energy, and I don’t know a spell to help you get that raise at work, but I can help you grow some of the most commonly used herbs for spiritual and magical traditions. The rest is up to you, my friend.
Growing Common Magical Herbs
When embarking on growing herbs for use in your practice, there are some important considerations before you get started.
Indoors or Outdoors
Growing herbs outdoors means you’ll need to know your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, the quality of your soil and how much light you get where you would like to grow your herbs. Most herbs need between 6-8 hours of bright sunlight a day. Will you be planting your herbs directly in the soil, raised beds or growing them in containers? You will need to wait until your last frost date before planting herbs outdoors, which you can find on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.
If you plan on growing potted herbs indoors, your biggest consideration is light. Do you have somewhere that receives enough light for herbs? If not, you will need to use grow lights. I highly recommend Barrina grow lights. They’re decently priced and great quality. I use them myself in my indoor grow tent, and I recently installed some under my cupboards so I can grow herbs on my counter.
Seeds vs. Seedlings?
New practitioners of the most ancient and noble art of gardening may find it easier to grow herbs from seedlings or even propagate from a cutting. Many herbs are notoriously difficult to start from seed. Even most gardeners prefer to grow them from seedlings.
Some herb seeds need to be cold-stratified before the seeds will germinate, and herbs often require specific soil temperatures and a long germination period before they will sprout. For this reason, I highly recommend new green witches go with seedlings.
If you have your heart set on starting herbs from seed, or that’s all you have access to, remember to be patient. It’s okay if you have to restart a couple of times to get the seeds to germinate. Seedlings you grow yourself will need to be hardened off before you plant them outdoors. Learn how here.
Fresh or Dried?
How will you be using your herbs? You might want both dried and fresh herbs on hand for your practice. In that case, here are two simple ways to dry the herbs you grow at home.
You’ll find in Pagan and Wiccan magical practices herbs are central tools used for spells, rituals, and healing. While different traditions emphasize different herbs, these ten are among the most commonly referenced across Pagan paths:
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Common Uses: Cleansing, protection, purification
How to Grow It:
You’ll find that sage requires well-draining soil that is slightly sandy or loamy. If you’re growing it in pots, use an all-purpose mix and add a bit more perlite to it. Sage will thrive in full sun, with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Water sparingly as it’s prone to root rot.
Sage isn’t a heavy feeder, so if you’re growing it outdoors, adding compost or a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring usually provides all the nutrients it needs. Indoors, fertilize it at half strength only during its active growing cycle. Snip leaves regularly to encourage new growth. (Here’s my guide on how to prune sage so it grows bushy and full.)
Seeds germinate in 10 to 21 days and do not require cold stratification. Sow seeds about 1/8 inch deep and keep the soil lightly moist during germination.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Common Uses: Psychic visions, dreams, astral travel
How to Grow it:
Mugwort grows pretty easily in average, well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and does well in full sun or partial shade, making it a more flexible choice for your magical herb garden. Fertilization is rarely necessary and can reduce its aromatic qualities, which may be important to your practice.
Seeds take 10 to 21 days to germinate, and cold stratification for 30 days is recommended. Sow mugwort seeds on the soil surface and press lightly—do not cover, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil moist during germination.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Common Uses: Peace, love, sleep, purification
How to Grow it:
Lavender can be tricky to grow, as it’s very finicky about light and water. It does best in well-draining, slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. As it’s a Mediterranean plant, it needs full sun and dry conditions, with only occasional watering once established. Fertilizer should be used sparingly; outside, compost applied in spring is sufficient.
Lavender is notoriously tough to start from seed. Seeds germinate in 14 to 28 days and benefit from 30 days of cold stratification. Sow lavender seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly press them in without covering, as they need light to germinate.
Because it can be a tricky plant for beginners to grow, here are a few helpful guides.
How To Grow Lavender From Seed Or Cuttings: The Total Guide
5 Lavender Mistakes That Could Seriously Harm Your Plant
How to Prune Lavender – the Secret to Abundant Blooms Every Year
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Common Uses: Memory, protection, clarity, healing
How to Grow it:
Rosemary grows best in well-draining, sandy soil. It is also a Mediterranean plant and has the same sun and water requirements as lavender. It loves full sun and, once established, is drought-tolerant. Water sparingly and avoid soggy soil. Use fertilizer lightly—compost or a diluted balanced fertilizer in spring works well.
Rosemary is slow to germinate, taking 14 to 28 days, and cold stratification is not required, though soaking seeds overnight may help. Sow rosemary seeds lightly on the surface and barely press them into the soil—they need light to germinate. Keep moist during germination.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Common Uses: Love, prosperity, protection
How to Grow it:
Basil is relatively easy to grow; the key is to know how to prune it. Basil enjoys rich, well-draining soil. It requires full sun and consistent watering to keep the soil moist (like a wrung-out sponge), especially in warm weather. Because basil grows quickly, it needs regular feeding. Feed monthly with compost or a balanced fertilizer for best growth. (I use this one.)
Basil seeds germinate quickly, usually in 5 to 10 days, and do not need cold stratification. Sow basil seeds about 1/4 inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Common Uses: Wishes, protection, divination
How to Grow it:
Bay leaves are from the bay laurel shrub, so your best bet for growing bay leaves is to purchase a potted plant; otherwise, you’ll be waiting forever for your bay leaves.
Territorial Seed Company offers small transplants. Burpee offers slightly larger plants if you want a plant that’s a bit further along.
Bay leaf grows best in well-drained, loamy soil. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Water moderately and allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Fertilizer should be applied lightly in spring.
Depending on where you live, you may need to bring the plant indoors during fall and winter.
Mint (Mentha spp.)
Common Uses: Prosperity, healing, mental stimulation
How to Grow it:
Mint prefers rich, moist, well-draining soil. It grows in full sun to part shade and enjoys consistently moist soil. Fertilize monthly with compost tea or a balanced liquid fertilizer. If you plan on growing mint outdoors, do not plant it directly in the soil; here’s why. You will regret it!
Seeds germinate in 10 to 16 days and do not require cold stratification. Sow mint seeds on the surface of the soil and press lightly—they need light to germinate.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Common Uses: Courage, purification, protection
How to Grow it:
Thyme prefers sandy, well-drained soil and thrives in full sun. Water sparingly, as it is drought-tolerant. Use fertilizer minimally—compost in early spring is usually enough, or fertilize at half strength during its growth cycle indoors.
Germination takes 14 to 28 days, and cold stratification isn’t necessary. Thyme seeds are tiny; sow them on the surface of the soil and press gently without covering, as they need light to germinate.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla – German)
Common Uses: Peace, sleep, love, luck
How to Grow it:
Chamomile grows well in light, well-draining soil and prefers full sun to partial shade. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Fertilizer isn’t typically needed; compost added at planting is usually enough.
Seeds germinate within 7 to 14 days and do not need cold stratification. Sow chamomile seeds on the surface of the soil, gently pressing them down without covering—they require light to germinate.
For a more in-depth growing guide for chamomile, click here.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Common Uses: Wishes, communication with spirits, divination
How to Grow it:
Okay, I feel like it’s cheating to put this on the list, as most of us don’t need to try to grow dandelions. But it is still one of the top-referenced herbs in Paganism. That being said, there are a few important things to keep in mind when working with foraged dandelions.
- Always harvest dandelions from an area you know has not been treated with pesticides.
- Avoid dandelions close to roadways, as they’re covered in dirt and chemicals from passing cars.
- You do not need to save the dandelions for the bees. Contrary to popular belief, they are not bees’ first food, nor are they the most nutritious. Click here for more information.
- Every part of the dandelion is usable/edible.
If you live in an area where dandelions are uncommon, you can grow them in containers easily enough. Dandelions are incredibly hardy and adaptable, thriving in nearly any soil type but preferring well-drained loam. They grow best in full sun but tolerate partial shade. Water moderately and avoid fertilizing, as they naturally grow well in low-nutrient conditions.
Seeds germinate in 7 to 21 days and don’t require cold stratification. Sow dandelion seeds 1/8 inch deep and keep the soil lightly moist until germination. You can get dandelion seeds here.
Using Potted Supermarket Herbs
I’m going to give you a little cheat code here. Five of the herbs on this list are commonly sold as live plants at your local grocery store – sage, basil, rosemary, mint and thyme. If you’ve ever bought them to use in cooking, you know they don’t usually last long. But they can!
I’ve written up the basics on how to make supermarket herbs grow into healthy, sustainable countertop plants. You can even plant them outside if you wish. Even if you don’t wish to go this route, I think the article is well worth a read as I go over the basics of pruning herbs, which is important for keeping them healthy and producing new foliage. Click here to read how.
Now that you know the basics of growing these magical herbs, I hope I’ve convinced you of the magic of another ancient tradition – gardening.
Get the famous Rural Sprout newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Join the 50,000+ gardeners who get timely gardening tutorials, tips and tasks delivered direct to their inbox.