Secondary Navigation
- Home
- News
- Visit us
- Search Rooms
- Archivists' Garden
- Interactive experience
- Taster sessions
- Assisted searches
- Seminar facility
- Royal visit
Archivists' Garden - Birth, Marriage, Death
Aconitum·Almond·Apple·Appleringie·Aster·Bear's Breeches·Bell Heather·Birch·Black Snakeroot
Boxwood·Columbine·Common Dog Violet·Common Myrtle·Cowslip·Crab Apple·Dog Rose·Grape Hyacinth
Guelder Rose·Hairy Thyme·Hard Fern·Hazel·Horned Pansy·Lesser Periwinkle·Madonna Lily·Pears
Primrose·Quamash·Rock Ivy·Rosemary·Rowan·St John's Wort·Scotch Thistle·Shuttlecock Fern·Sowbread·
Sweet Violet·Vervain·White Rose·Wild Daffodil·Wild Flag Iris·Wood Anemone·Yew
Aconitum (Monkswood)
Aconitum (Bressingham Spire) and Aconitum (Blue Sceptre), family Ranunculaceae
Season - July to October
(Association - Death)
The distinctive 'monk's cowl' flowers
Native to southern England and Europe, monkshood has been cultivated in gardens since before 1600. Highly poisonous, it is surrounded by mythology and associated with murder and famous poisonings. Pliny the Elder (23-79) named it 'woman's murder'. He also noted that it was said to have sprouted from the spittle of the hell hound Cerberus which Hercules brought out from the underworld. During the Middle Ages it was associated with witchcraft, and later in the 1600's it was used medicinally despite it highly toxic nature. The common name, Monkwood, reflects the flower shape, which looks like a monk's cowl.
A cluster of Aconitum
Almond
Prunus dulcis, family Rosaceae
Season - March to April
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Famous Scots)
Almond blossom
Originally from Asia, the almond has been grown in Britain since the 16th century. The seed is used in confectionery, baking and as gin flavouring. It also provides almond oil for use in medicine and as a skin and hair conditioner. Since ancient times it has been linked to the goddess of fertility, Cybele. As a result for centuries they have featured in the celebrations surrounding birth and marriage. For example almonds were once scattered in front of newly weds leaving the ceremony. Other accounts refer to sugared almonds being presented by the godfather and the godmother to guests after a christening ceremony was complete. Today they are occasionally seen on wedding cakes or they may be given out by the bride and groom as a favour or memory to special guests. In the same plant family as roses, almonds are a relative of the native Scottish bird cherry or gean. This tree Prunus avium, which is still grown as an ornamental may have been what the Edinburgh poet and author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was referring to in his well known work A Child's Garden of Verse 1912.
Foreign Lands
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked upon foreign lands.
Do not judge each day by the harvest you reap, but the seeds you sow.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Blossum close-up
Apple
Malus domestica (James Grieve) and Malus domestica (Worcester Pearmain), family Rosaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
'James Grieve' dessert apples
Apples have featured in rituals and mythology since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, when they were used as temple offerings. To the Ancient Greeks they were a symbol of reproduction and youthful beauty. Gaia the goddess of the earth is said to have presented Hera the protectress of marriage with a tree covered in golden apples upon her marriage to Zeus. Its fruit was said to give eternal youth. To the Celtic peoples the tree represented everlasting life and knowledge; Merlin is said to have taught under an apple tree. They also have deep Christian meaning, with the story of Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden and as such they often appear in religious art as symbols of temptation. By the Middle Ages apples were undoubtedly deeply embedded in European cultural beliefs. This fact combined with their sweet flavour and colourful appearance meant they were closely associated with love. From classical times and through the renaissance Psyche the beautiful damsel who eventually married Eros the Greek god of love (Cupid to the Romans) is often depicted carrying a basket of apples on her head as a symbol of fertility. However she also has a dark side as she is the goddess of the soul, which associates her with death. Traditionally in many cultures apples were planted as a 'Birth Tree' in celebration of the birth of a boy, would it not be good for families to restart that tradition and plant an apple tree to celebrate the birth of a boy, or a pear on the birth of a girl?
James Grieve
Worcester Pearmain
The garden contains two dessert apples. The first, 'James Grieve', was specially bred to suit the Scottish climate and is named after James Grieve. He was a respected Edinburgh Nurseryman and plant hybridiser, born in Peebles c.1840. Grieve went to work in a local nursery at an early age before becoming an apprentice at Stobo Castle. Following this he moved to Edinburgh to breed hybrid pansies for Messrs Dickson and Co. Edinburgh. Later he set up his own nursery business with his two sons specialising in violas, pinks, carnations and top fruit, especially apples. He died in Edinburgh in 1924.
The cross for the cultivar which bears his name was between 'Potts Seedling' and 'Cox's Orange Pippin' shortly before 1893. The second cultivar in the garden is 'Worcester Pearmain' which was one of the best varieties formerly grown in the Clyde Valley Orchards. It originally occurred as a chance seedling in a nursery on the banks of the Severn near Worcester c. 1870.
Appleringie (Lad's Love, Maid's Love, Wormwood)
Artemisia abrotanum, family Compositae
Season - May to October
(Associations - Marriage, Birth, Death)
Appleringie, cultivated since the 16th century
Originally from Southern Europe, Appleringie has been grown in gardens since 1548. It is favoured for its silvery foliage which has a distinct sweet aroma and is known to discourage insects. For this reason it was often planted near the house, bunches were also cut and brought indoors to discourage flies, bees and wasps. It was said to have been carried by the Egyptian priests as they approached the temple of the goddess Isis who was seen as the mother of all things. The Latin name is derived from the Greek Goddess Artemis, protector of the moon, birth and women. In ancient times the temples of Artemis were not only places of worship but centres of healing especially for women during confinement. Later the followers of the Christian faith often planted it near grave stones, hence its association with death. It is even associated with marriage, as it was used by young men as a button hole during courting rituals in many parts of Britain right up until the First World War, when it was thought to be a sign of affectionate fidelity.
Aster
Aster amellus (King George), family Compositae
Season - August to October
(Associations - Marriage)
'The herb of Venus'
The aster is considered to be the herb of Venus the goddess of love, it was introduced from Italy prior to 1600. According to Virgil they were made into wreaths and used to adorn the altars of the gods. The name is derived from the Latin astrum meaning star, reflecting the shape of the flowers. According to Greek legend they were formed when the Astraea the 'Starry Maid' cried when she saw there were no stars upon the earth, the flowers then sprouted from her tears. In the language of flowers they are a symbol of love and daintiness. How many of us realise this when presenting them as a gift today? Many of the species introduced from North America such as Aster nov-belgii were used to breed the modern late flowering ornamentals we grow in gardens today. These are sometimes called Michaelmas Daisies as their flowering coincided with Michaelmas Day which had moved forward with the adaptation of the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Unlike the European species they have medicinal value having been used by Native Americans to treat everything from boils to snake bites and fever.
'Michaelmas Daisies'
Bear's Breeches
Acanthus spinosus, family Acanthaceae
Season - July to August
(Associations - Death, Famous Scots)
Bear's Breeches
Bear's Breeches was introduced into cultivation from Italy in 1548. The name acanthus is derived from Acantha, a nymph loved by Apollo who is said to have turned her into the flower. The distinct shape of the foliage has inspired many. Their first use in architecture is said to have been by the Greek Sculptor Kallimachos (5th century BC). According to myth, he witnessed a basket of toys being placed on a child's grave and covered with a cloth. Passing by the grave the following Spring he noted the basket was still present, but plants of bears breeches had pushed up the cloth and foliage now caressed the sides of the basket. This gave Kallimachos the idea for what became the classic Corinthian column favoured by the famous Scottish architect Robert Adam (1728-1792) who was particularly fond of the Corinthian Order. Born in Kirkcaldy, Robert Adam studied in Edinburgh and Italy. By 1758 he had established a practice in London which, for more than 30 years, dominated the British architectural scene, transforming London and other major cities, as well as country houses. One of his most famous works in Scotland, apart from New Register House and the 'Old Quad' at the University of Edinburgh, is the vast oval staircase at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. If you look closely at the tops of the classical columns designed in the Corinthian manner by Adam at the front of New Register House and his other buildings in the city you will see carved in the stone multilayered acanthus leaves. These can also be even be found in the ornate plaster work ceilings inside the buildings.
Corinthian column,
inspired by Acanthus spinosus
Robert Adam
Bell Heather
Erica cinerea (C.D. Eason) and Erica cinerea (Hookstone White), family Ericaceae
Season - June to September
(Associations - Tartan, Homecoming, Marriage, Heraldry, Famous Scots)
Bell Heather
Native to Britain and many parts of Western Europe, bell heather has had various domestic uses including bedding, thatch, tanning and even brewing. It is also the source of a purple ochre dye which was produced from the flowering tips. Today having been written about in verse and song for centuries, the plant is deeply embedded in our culture and as such is perhaps the plant which means homecoming more than most. It was even dried and transported overseas as a symbol of home. Sprigs of white heather in particular were thought to bring good fortune and prosperity. At weddings it was given away as favours and still is today. Linked with romance, who could forget the words to the famous folk song, Will You Go Lassie, Go written by Northern Irish Folk singer, William McPeake, and recorded in 1957.
Will ye go, lassie, go,
And we'll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather,
Will ye go, lassie, go.
The Arms of John Balliol
Bell Heather
MacDougall plant badge
Birch
Betula pendula, family Betulaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death, Tartan, Famous Scots)
Birch
Birch does not feature in the mythology of the Greek and Roman worlds, which is not surprising as it does not naturally occur in the Mediterranean. However it appears in Celtic tradition as a symbol of the awakening of new life. This was once reflected by the use of birch twigs by the corn sheaf bridal figures used in the celebrations surrounding St Bridges Day each spring. Saint Brigid was the Celtic goddess of rebirth. In the language of flowers birch represents modesty and grace hence it was refered to by Coleridge as the 'Lady of the Woods'. In some parts of Europe it was known as the rod of life and the bride and groom were often asked to step over a birch pole as the entered their new home, in the hope that this would aid the coming of a family. In contrast the dead were often covered in birch twigs perhaps because it was also thought of as a protector from evil? Birch had many practical uses which made it central to daily life. The timber was utilised in construction, basket-making and the manufacture of domestic items. The bark was used for candles, paper and tanning. A tea was produced from the leaves and used medicinaly; they were also made into dye for wool used in weaving tartan and tweed. Wine was made from the sap and still is today. Through destructive distillation the sap was also processed into a sticky waterproof tar for the fishing and construction industries. The traditional fiddler and composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) was also known as the 'Strathspey King'. Born in Banchory Skinner, went on to travel and perform extensively in Britain and America whilst writing over 600 tunes, one of these was the slow air 'The Weeping Birch of Kilmorack'. The tune commemorates Skinner's visit to the Falls of Kilmorack on the river Beauly and the Pass of Dhreim with his two great friends Donald Morrison and Dr. McDonald. During this visit Morrison told Skinner how previously a traction engine had fallen 100 feet from the road into the gorge, killing two men. After this happened a phenomenon reputedly occurred with most of the birches within 30 yards of the accident withering away without regeneration. Extremely attractive, birches have often featured in oil and water colour paintings. Even the Scottish portrait painter Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) although not renowned for illustrating plants, could not resist their beauty. He often set his subjects, particularly women, in a romantic landscape featuring a wooded background. The especially fine portrait below is of Mrs Downey of Prestonpans, circa 1787-1790. We see her in an imaginary mixed woodland of birch and beech.
James Skinner
Sir Henry Raeburn
'Mrs Downey of Prestonpans'
by Raeburn
Black Snakeroot
Cimicifuga racemosa, family Ranunculaceae
Season - June to July
(Associations - Birth)
Black Snakeroot, originally from North America
A native of Canada and North America the plant was once sent to Britain annually as seed to be grown for the roots which contained a substance known as cimicifugin. Here in Britain it was used to make medicines for diarrhoea and whooping cough especially in children. Native Americans used it to treat rattle snake bites, rheumatism and to aid the development of milk in nursing mothers.
Black Snakeroot was used by
Native Americans as snakebite cure
Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens, family Buxaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Birth , Marriage, Death, Heraldry)
Boxwood
Native to south east England and Europe, Boxwood has been used in gardens for hedges and topiary for centuries. In ancient Greece it was dedicated to Hades or Pluto the god of the underworld, and to Venus or Aphrodite the goddess of love. It was associated with Cybele the mother goddess, a symbol of fertility and regeneration. The Christian faith later adopted this belief and the plant became associated with the resurrection and as such was central to ceremonies surrounding Palm Sunday. In some cultures it symbolises eternal life and is used in rituals surrounding burial including floral wreaths. This is perhaps why the foliage and the wood were once thought to protect people and property from evil. The plant has been used extensively in heraldry, featuring in the arms of families such as Davidson, MacBean, MacDun, MacGilvary, Macintosh, MacQueen, MacPherson and Shaw. It is also the plant badge of the ancient Clan MacBain, today commemorated by a memorial park on the shores of Loch Ness. The wood is durable and has been turned into small domestic items such as bobbins and chess pieces, musical instruments and rulers; it was also used for inlaying furniture. The leaves and the timber were the source of medicinal oil used to treat epilepsy.
Boxwood, used in topiary
for centuries
Columbine (Grannie's Bonnets)
Aquilegia vulgaris, family Ranunculaceae
Season - May to June
(Associations - Marriage, Birth)
Columbine
Native to Britain and Europe it has been grown in gardens since before 1600 and is an established part of the cottage garden flora. The Latin name is derived from the Greek aquila (eagle) referring to the talon-like spurs on the flowers which secrete nectar to be collected by honey bees. Once associated with Venus the Roman goddess of love, it was later adopted by the Christian faith as one of Mary's flowers, and as such it regularly appears in paintings and tapestries associated with the birth of Christ. The popular name columbine is derived from the Latin columba meaning dove.
Columba is Latin for 'dove'
Common Dog Violet
Viola riviniana, family Violaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Famous Scots, Death)
Dog Violet
'Beauty is no quality in things themselves: it exists merely in the mind which contemplates them'. The words of David Hume (1711-1776) the Scottish Philosopher and historian born in Edinburgh. The natural world was a constant source of inspiration to Hume providing the basis for much of his thinking and arguments. Although Hume resided in Edinburgh he regularly spent long periods of time at the family home Nine Wells near Chirnside in Berwickshire,where he enjoyed walking in the garden and surrounding natural woodlands which were dotted with this tiny spring flowering native violet which would have been familiar to him. Violets are surrounded in mythology and popular belief, in some parts of Britain they are seen as the flowers of the dead and it was thought that to pick them with dew drops on would result in the death of a loved one. They are also associated with love. Other beliefs associate them with openness and innocence.
David Hume
Common Myrtle
Myrtus communis, family Myrtaceae
Season - All Year
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
Common Myrtle
This Mediterranean shrub has been well known in our gardens since the 16th century. To many cultures it represents 'The Tree of Life' a reflection of its ceremonial use in society. This began with the Ancient Greeks using the aromatic foliage to crown judges and magistrates as well as ceremonially at the Olympic Games. From these humble origins the cult of myrtle grew to become a plant sacred to the goddess of love (Venus, Aphrodite), it was even reputed to make love grow and sustain it. By the Middle Ages it was deeply embedded in the beliefs surrounding marriage, fertility and erotic love. As such it was often seen in bridal wreaths and head dresses and it is still used by many faiths for this purpose today. Interestingly since the time of Queen Victoria all royal brides in Britain have had a sprig of myrtle in their wedding bouquet. In milder regions myrtle bushes were also planted to celebrate the birth of a child. Although primarily a love plant, because of its evergreen foliage Virgil saw it as the tree of death containing the souls of those who had died due to a love too passionate. It was also thought to have cleansing powers and as such it was given to the dead at funerals. The foliage and flowers are the source of a fragrant oil 'Eau d'Ange' used in perfumes and medicines. The timber is used in furniture and the bark in tanning.
Myrtle, source of 'Eau d'Ange'
used in perfume and medicine
Cowslip
Primula veris, family Primulaceae
Season - April to May
(Associations - Marriage, Death, Famous Scots)
Cowslip
The flowers of this native plant have been used to flavour wine and make medicinal ointments and creams to improve complexion, memory and sunburn for a long time. Robert Burns< (1759-1796) wrote of it in his flattering song The Lass of Cessnock Banks which was written to celebrate his love for Alison Begbie (with 'rogeish een' - mischievous twinkling eyes) the daughter of a farmer from the Parish of Galston who turned down his request for marriage in 1781-82.
"She is stately like yon youthful ash,
That grows the cowslip braes between..."
"Mourn, Spring, thou darling of the year!
Ilk cowslip cup shall kep a tear"
Robert Burns
Cowslip, used to flavour wine
Crab Apple
Malus x robusta (Red Sentinel), family Rosaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
Crab Apple
Siberian Crab apple is a cross between two species, Malus baccata and Malus prunifoila. It is unclear how long they have been in cultivation. The variety Red Sentinel is good in that it holds its fruit well into winter provided that the birds leave it alone. Crab apples, like their domestic relatives which derive from them, are surrounded in the same mythology. For instance, in the Baroque period, death is often shown holding a crab apple, a reference to Psyche the goddess of the soul. Folklore traditions within living memory predicted that an apple tree producing blossom in the autumn was a harbinger of death within the family.
Variety of crab apple blossom
Dog Rose
Rosa canina, family Rosaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Marriage, Death, Heraldry, Famous Scots)
Dog Rose
Rosa canina is native to Britain, Europe and parts of western Asia. The scented flowers are very variable in colour and have resulted in several cultivated hybrids. These include R. canina (Abbotswood) which was found in the garden of Irish engineer Mr Harry Ferguson who founded the tractor company which made the famous 'Little Grey Fergie' which changed the face of Scottish agriculture forever. Robert Burns (1759-1796) also makes over 60 references to it in his many songs and poems as it was clearly one of his favourite flowers. Shrouded in mythology and strongly linked to the Christian faith, the dog rose is symbolic of purity, love and marriage, it was also linked to the prediction of death, as it was once thought that if you were ill and dreamt of roses you would die! The bright red hips which are produced in the autumn were once used to make medicinal syrup; they were also thought to give protection from sorcery and witches. This is perhaps why it often features in medieval and gothic architecture and works of art, especially, the wood and stone carving found with ecclesiastical buildings. On the authority of the Court of the Lord Lyon the rose is recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland and in the Matriculations of Arms of Chiefs as being the official plant badge of the Clans Borthwick, Erskine and Lennox.
Robert Burns
Dog Rose
official plant badge of Clans
Borthwick, Erskine and Lennox
Grape Hyacinth
Muscari azureum, family Liliaceae
Season - May
(Associations - Marriage, Death, Famous Scots)
Grape Hyacinth
This form of the grape hyacinth is originally from the Mediterranean and Turkey. Like other hyacinths it was closely associated with the earth goddess Demeter. As she was the guardian of women it was often worn as part of a bridal crown. The Ancient Greeks regarded it as a flower of death and in many European cultures it was associated with remembrance. This is a reflection of its connection with the myth of Hyakinthos, who through an act of the gods was killed by his friend Apollo whilst throwing a discus. Weeping for his friend, Apollo stated that a flower would eventually bear his tears, instantly blossoms are said to have sprouted from the blood of Hyakinthos, these were reputedly what we know as hyacinths today. In the Christian faith it is seen as a symbol of wisdom, and tranquility and like many other plants it often appears in religious works of art. In the language of flowers the various colours have different meanings ranging from white for discreet love, to mauve for mourning. The respected Scottish Zoologist and Classical Scholar Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1860-1948) wrote about his theory of transformation involving the body as a whole and the mathematics behind nature. In his classic of modern science and biology 'On Growth and Form' (1942) he stated in the chapter on leaf arrangement: "The beautiful configuration produced by the orderly arrangement of leaves or florets on the stem have long been an object of admiration and curiosity". In a subsequent chapter he also describes the science behind the form of a hyacinth leaf, which grows continuously from the base. The garden is in fact filled with the natural wonders, shapes and forms he strove to understand mathematically.
Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson
Guelder Rose
Viburnum opulus (Compactum), family Adoxaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Famous Scots, Birth)
Guelder Rose
This plant is native to Britain, Europe and parts of Asia; it has been grown in our gardens since before 1600. It is sometimes known as Cramp Bark as it was used in herbal medicines associated with childbirth. The fruit which is high in vitamin C, can be eaten fresh but it is very bitter; however it is made into a sauce similar to cranberry and served with poultry. The twigs were used as cooking skewers. Its common name is derived from the Dutch Province of Gueldres, where it was first cultivated. The Scottish artist and writer Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) who often drew inspiration from nature, celebrated the plant in a work he created at Little Sparta in the Pentland Hills. A visit to the garden will reveal the following inscription on a tablet of stone at the entrance to Huff Lane within the area known as the English Park Land. A Woodland Flute BETULA
PENDULA
CARPINUS
BETULUS
VIBURNUM
OPULUS
POPULUS
TREMULA
PRUNUS
Silver Birch, Hornbeam
Guelder Rose, Aspen, Plum
Ian Hamilton Finlay
Hairy Thyme
Thymus polytrichus, family Labiatae/Laminaceae
Season - April to August
(Associations - Famous Scots, Birth, Death, Heraldry
Hairy Thyme
Thyme, like many other scented plants, is steeped in mythology. In ancient Greece and Rome it was seen as a symbol of strength, power, courage and sacrifice, it was even embroidered on the togas of the generals. During the crusades it was given to knights about to go into battle to give them strength. Perhaps because of this thyme is the plant badge of the Clan Armstrong, which originates from around Liddlesdale in Roxburghshire. Renowned for their strength, by 1528 the clan was said to have been able to put 3,000 horsemen in the field. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the clan had a turbulent relationship with the Scottish Kings, particularly King James V (1512-1542) who as a result of a ruse captured and hung some 50 members of the clan, including the famous border reiver Johnny Armstrong (d.1529) of Gilnockie near Langholm. His last words were reputed to be "I am but a fool to seek grace at a graceless face, but had I known you would have taken me this day, I would have lived in the Borders despite King Harry and you both." This defiance is commemorated in the famous Border ballad:
Johnny Armstrong
Farewell! my bonny Gilnock Hall
Where on Esk side thou standest stout
Gif I had lived but seven yeirs mair
I wad a gilt thee round about
John Murdered was at Carlinrigg
And all his gallant companie;
But Scotland's heart was ne'er sae wae
To see sae mony brave men die.
King James V
Plant badge of Clan Armstrong
Hard Fern
Blechnum spicant, family Blechnaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Marriage, Heraldry)
Hard Fern
In Gaelic culture ferns were thought to have protective powers especially from witches. Several native species were previously used medicinally for a wide number of ailments including, lumbago, worms, coughs and skin disorders. It was also used as shampoo. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum, was important for bedding, green manure and a source of soda for the manufacture of glass and soap. The native Osmunda regalis once used as a love charm requires really moist conditions and today it can still be found throughout the western seaboard of Britain despite being plundered by Victorian collectors. Like many other ferns it is now protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The name Osmunda is said to be derived from the legend of Osmund, a Loch Fyne ferry man, who hid his family on an island covered with the tall foliage of this ornamental during a Viking raid. These two species being unsuitable for a small garden, ferns are represented by the architectural Blechum spicant. Ferns are the plant badge of the Clan Chisholm who originated from the Scottish Borders and later established themselves in the highlands during the mid-1300's. They were strong supporters of the Jacobite cause but like so many clans, family members also fought on the government side, thus pitching father against son in some cases.
Hard Fern
official plant badge of Clan Chisholm
Hazel
Corylus avellana (Contorta), family Betulaceae
April - October
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Famous Scots, Heraldry)
Hazel
The hazel is native to Britain, Europe and Asia. The durable timber has many uses ranging from hurdles, wattle and daub to walking sticks, bean poles and even divining rods. It has been considered sacred in many cultures since ancient times being seen as a gift from the gods. In the Celtic world it is sacred to the sea god Manannan. It was also associated with fairies and considered to ward off evil. St Patrick is reputed to have driven the snakes out of Ireland with a hazel wand. It was also seen as a tree of knowledge and many thought that wisdom was imparted from it through the edible nuts, which make excellent eating. In Scotland they were also processed into milk in the autumn to feed new born babies in the belief that it would provide them with good luck and fine health. The nuts are also associated with fertility and marriage, being given out at weddings in the hope that the couple would be blessed with numerous children. Hazel is the plant badge of the Clan Colquhoun which dates back to the 13th century and a grant of land near Dunbartonshire. Famous members of the Clan include Patrick Colquhoun (1745-1820), a former provost of Glasgow and tobacco merchant, who later became a reformer and statistician founding the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the oldest of its kind in Britain and the Thames River Police. More recently the Scottish painter, printmaker and set designer Robert Colquhoun (1914-62) became one of the leading artists off his generation after studying at the Glasgow School of Art and later throughout Europe. The twisted ornamental form growing in the garden is affectionately known as 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' in deference to the well-known comic singer, born in Portobello in Edinburgh, Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950). Lauder regularly appeared on-stage with a gnarled old twisted staff whilst singing his famous song 'Roamin in the Gloamin'.
Robert Colquhoun
Sir Harry Lauder
Flowering Hazel
Horned Pansy
Viola cornuta, family Violaceae
Season - April to July
(Associations - Marriage, Death)
Horned Pansy
The horned pansy was introduced from the Pyrenees in 1776 and like other violets is shrouded in mythology and myth connected with love, marriage and death. In France this sweetly scented pansy was referred to as 'Violette Folle' (the mad violet) as sniffing it was thought to cause madness. There is no evidence to suggest that this is true!
Referred to as the 'Mad Violet' in France
Lesser Periwinkle
Vinca minor, family Apocynaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Famous Scots, Marriage, Heraldry)
Lesser Periwinkle
Now naturalised in parts of Britain the lesser periwinkle is thought to have been introduced from Europe prior to 1600. It is pollinated by long-tongued bees and bee flies. Traditionally it has been planted in gardens as a symbol of good fortune and a happy marriage. Herbalists used it as a tonic, a laxative and as a gargle; it was also prepared into ointment for skin conditions. Recently it has been important in providing the drug vincamine, used in treating brain disorders. On the authority of the Court of the Lord Lyon, periwinkle is recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland and in the Matriculations of Arms of Chiefs as being the official plant badge of the Clan Hannay, originally from South West Scotland. Perhaps the most famous Clan member was James Hannay (d.1661), the Dean of St Giles in Edinburgh. Reputedly, it was during one of his sermons on the 23 July 1637 that he became the target of a stool flung by one Jenny Geddes (c.1600-c.1660), a market trader, who was outraged at his use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer for the first time in Scotland. The incident turned into a full scale riot which brought out the town guard, depicted in a contemporary print.
Cluster of Lesser Periwinkle
Anglican Prayers used in a Presbyterian service
led to rioting, 1637
Madonna Lily
Lilium candidum, family Liliaceae
Season - June to July
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death, Heraldry)
Madonna Lily
The Madonna lily occurs naturally from the eastern Mediterranean to Asia and it has been in cultivation since ancient times, when it was eaten and used medicinally. Throughout history it has been surrounded by a myriad of mythology, religious symbolism and cultural beliefs. The Egyptians dedicated it to Isis, the goddess of motherhood and a fertile earth. It was through her marriage to the god Osiris, that it was first connected with death and the underworld. To the Greeks it was 'the flower of all flowers' and to the Romans it was 'Jupiter's Rose'. One Greek myth links it to events between Juno, Jupiter, Zeus and Hercules, which is said to have resulted in the formation of the Milky Way and the lily. Another links it to Aphrodite the goddess of fertility, it is thought this reflects the phallus like pistil at the centre of the flower. Ultimately it was seen to represent purity, innocence, chastity and elegance. In the 5th century it became associated with Christianity and by the Middle Ages it was closely associated with the Virgin Mary in particular. Also dedicated to St Anthony patron saint of marriage, it was regularly placed in bridal wreaths, sometimes being mixed with ears of corn to represent a blessed and fertile marriage. Its natural life cycle as a bulb is to emerge, flower and then die; as such it was associated with transience of life on earth, the soul and ultimately death. This resulted in it being planted in graveyards, especially in memory of children. To many it was a messenger of the Grim Reaper. Due to its natural beauty and symbolism it was depicted in early art especially friezes, ceramics, stone carvings and coins. It later regularly appeared in renaissance Christian art especially. It is also an important heraldic symbol, and was used as recently as 1996 in a Coat of Arms granted to the City of Dundee (below). Very popular as a cut flower today it is clearly at the heart of our culture, yet few will understand the meaning our ancestors placed upon it.
Dundee, Coat of Arms
Pears
Pear (Conference), family Rosaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Marriage, Birth, Death, Famous Scots)
Pears
The pear was dedicated by Ancient Greeks to goddess Hera who represented women, especially wives and fidelity in marriage. Perhaps because of the feminine shape of the fruit and the sweet flavour they have also been associated with early fertility cults. Throughout the centuries and within living memory pears have be seen as a 'Tree of Life' until recently many families planted a pear tree to celebrate the birth of a girl. How good it would be to renew that tradition. With so much mythology surrounding them it is no wonder that they feature in the folklore and fairy tales of several European countries, interestingly these stories highlight the wisdom and importance of women in society. Pears are also associated with remembrance and death, it was thought unlucky to bring the blossom into the house, as it was said to hasten a family bereavement. In the garden they are growing as cordons against the back wall. A sight which was clearly familiar to Adam Smith (1723-1790) the Scottish Economist born in Kirkcaldy and renowned for his role in shaping the modern science of economics, with his famous work the Wealth of Nations (1776), which evens details the importance and value of growing fruit. "In Great Britain, and some other northern countries, the finer fruits can not be brought to perfection but by the assistance of a wall. Their price, therefore in such countries must be sufficient to pay the expense of building and maintaining what they cannot be had without. The fruit-wall frequently surrounds the kitchen garden, which thus enjoys the benefit of an enclosure which its own produce could seldom pay for".
Adam Smith
Primrose
Primula vulgaris, family Primulaceae
Season - March to April
(Associations - Marriage, Death, Famous Scots)
Primrose
Native to Britain and many parts of Europe the sweetly scented primrose has many medicinal and cultural values similar to the cowslip and is considered by some to be more important medicinally. In the language of flowers it represented both the joy of youth and young love. In some parts of the country balls of flowers were once used by girls as a predictor of marriage, during the game they sung the names of potential suitors. Like the cowslip, the primrose is associated with the story of Melicerta, whose lover pined away after her sudden death. Shakespeare also associates the plant with death referring to it as the funeral flower for youth in Cymbeline, Act 4. On a brighter note Robert Burns (1759-1796) wrote of it with a fondness several times, for example it appears in the well known song 'Sweet Afton' with the lines:
How pleasant thy banks and green vallies below,
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow ...
Robert Burns
Primrose, sweetly scented
Quamash
Camassia quamash, family Hyacinthaceae/Liliaceae
Season - May
(Associations - Birth, Famous Scots)
Quamash
This ornamental bulb originally from North America was used by Native Americans in the preparation of medicines associated with childbirth. The bulbs were also an important part of the staple diet for many tribes. The famous Scottish plant collector and explorer David Douglas (1799-1834) was the first European to discover it and write about its beauty and use. We know from his journal that he ate it himself during his exploration of the Columbia River in 1825 and again during his search for the Sugar Pine, Pinus lambertiana, in 1826. Douglas who was born near Scone in Perthshire is better known for the significant range of forest trees he introduced, one of which included the Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii, named after another famous Scottish plant collector, Archibald Menzies (1754-1842) who first discovered it in British Columbia around 1792 prior to its introduction by Douglas in 1826. Today this tree plays a significant role in the nation's modern forestry industry and it is fair to say that no other plant collector has had a greater impact on the appearance of Scotland's landscape than Douglas.
David Douglas
Archibald Menzies
Quamash,
important to forestry
Rock Ivy
Hedera helix (Atropurpurea), family Araliaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Marriage, Birth, Death, Heraldry)
Rock Ivy berries
Ivy is native to Europe and Russia and has been cultivated in our gardens for centuries. It has been steeped in mythology and cultural meaning since ancient times. Originally dedicated to Osiris the goddess of motherhood in Egypt, and then later to Dionysus or Bacchus the Greek and Roman Gods of wine, the latter perhaps because it was thought to prevent drunkenness.Another myth states that it grew around the altar of Hymenaios, the Greek God of Marriage. As such ivy was often presented to the bride and groom as symbol of everlasting life, devotion, fidelity and loyalty. The Greeks also used it to make a crown for Liber the God of fertility as well as poets and other muses. These ancient meanings were later adopted by the Christian faith, when it became a symbol of love, friendship, immortality and death. It is often seen carved on Christian tombs and was once placed on the graves of the dead on All Soul's Day. By the Middle Ages these pagan meanings were deeply embedded in our cultural life, this was reflected in its use as a decoration at Christmas, a practice once banned by the Council of Churches due to its pagan roots. Carols such as 'The Holly and the Ivy' are thought to date from this time and may even be pre-Christian. Interestingly, by the Victorian era its use in this way was perfectly acceptable, perhaps a reflection of its place in the then accepted language of flowers. It is the plant badge of the Clan Gordon which dates back to 1150 and a first Grant of land near Kelso. Since then they have been central to the political and military life of Scotland and famed for their courage as well as the formation of the Gordon Highlanders. Two famous military heroes from the family include General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635-1699), Commander of the Armies of Peter the Great of Russia and General Charles Gordon of Khartoum (1833-1835). The family are also associated with the English poet Lord Byron - George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) the son of Scottish antecedents who was named after his grandfather on his mother's side, George Gordon of Gight Castle, Aberdeenshire. Today Ivy is still regularly seen in bridal bouquets, but few will understand its ancient uses and meanings.
Rock Ivy leaves
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis, family Labiatae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
Rosemary
This aromatic herb originally from the Mediterranean region was most likely introduced into cultivation in Britain by the Romans. The plant is surrounded by ritual, mythology, symbolism and practical use. The English popular name for it is 'the herb of memory'. An interesting reflection of the role of the National Archives as well as the philosophy behind the design of the plantings, which are in ribbons resembling the architectural form of the human brain. Like other trees and shrubs rosemary is seen in many cultures as a plant of life. Throughout Europe it is a symbol of love and fertility and as such an important ingredient in the preparation of baptismal meals. Being full of volatile oils it is an important culinary herb and medicine. The scented foliage and decorative flowers were often woven into bridal wreaths and bouquets in many countries. Thomas Moore wrote of its meaning and links with death and in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia states "There's Rosemary; that's for remembrance". It was often carried in funeral processions, right up until Victorian times. Interestingly in some parts of the country there is a belief that where rosemary flourishes the woman is the boss: 'The mistress is the master, where Rosemary grows the woman rules the house'. This is maybe a reflection as to why it is not found in some private gardens!
Up until Victorian times,
Rosemary was carried at funerals
Rowan
Sorbus aucuparia (Sheerwater Seedling), family Rosaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Famous Scots, Birth, Marriage, Death, Heraldry, Tartan, Homecoming)
Rowan
Not surprisingly the Rowan is at the heart of Scottish plant lore, associated with all areas of lives and culture. It has several practical uses - dyes, food, medicine. Our elders believed a heavy berry crop in autumn foretold many births the following year. It was believed to protect against evil, the devil, witches, death and disease; hence it was often seen planted near the house. Even today in parts of west Scotland foresters and gardeners refuse to cut the plant down. Many of the nation's famous poets and song writers have written about its qualities including Robert Burns. However perhaps the best remembered work is that of the Scottish song writer Lady Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), a Jacobite laird's daughter, born Gask, Perthshire.
The Rowan Tree
Oh! Rowan Tree Oh! Rowan Tree, thou'lt aye be dear to me / Intwin'd thou art wi mony ties o' hame and infancy. / Thy leaves were aye the firt o' spring, the flow'rs the simmers's pride; / There was nae sic a bonny tree, in a' the countryside. / Oh! Rowan Tree.
Lullaby for Lucy
Let all plants and creatures of the valley now / Unite
Calling a new / Young one to join the celebration.
Rowan and lamb and waters salt and sweet
Entreat the / New child to the brimming
Dance of the valley / A pledge and a promise.
Lonely they were long, the creatures of Rackwick, till
Lucy came among them, all brightness and light.
Lady Nairn
George MacKay Brown
Lucy Rendall parents
Rowan Tree
The fruits were mixed with madder to make traditional black and orange dyes for use in the manufacture of tartans and tweed. They were also made into jelly, a fermented punch and medicine for whooping cough.
Also the plant badge of several clans including Clan Scrimgeour, Clan Wigan and Clan MacLachlan, it is no wonder with such strong cultural links that the seed was taken to other parts of the world by departing Scots who hoped to grow a reminder of home in foreign lands. Next to the thistle it is undoubtedly one of the best living emblems of homecoming.
St John's Wort
Hypericum (Hidcote), family Guttiferae
Season - May to September
(Associations - Birth, Death)
St John's Wort
St John's Wort has been in cultivation since around 1600. Native to Britain, Europe and North Africa, the common name is a corruption of toute-saine meaning 'heal all', reflecting the supposed myriad of medicinal uses it once had. Surrounded by mythology it has been clearly valued culturally since ancient Greece, when Hypericum performatum in particular was considered to provide protection from devils and evil spirits. Since then it has also been linked with light and rebirth and until fairly recently these beliefs led in many parts of Europe to its use in the rituals associated with the feast of St John, Christmas and the summer solstice. During the Middle Ages it was also even thought to act as a fertility aid for barren women.
St John's Wort
a medieval fertility aid
Scotch Thistle
Onopordon acanthium, family Asteraceae/Compositae
Season - all year
(Associations - Heraldry, Homecoming, Death, Famous Scots)
Scotch Thistle
The plant we know as the Scotch thistle Onopordon acanthium is not native. It was most likely introduced from Europe pre-16th century and has now naturalised in many areas. Chosen by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) as the emblem for George the IV's visit to Scotland in 1822, it has been accepted as a national emblem. The most likely candidate for the true Scotch thistle is the native spear thistle Cirsium vulgare - abundant in Scotland and very similar to the depictions on early Scottish coins. The plant has many heraldic connections and is associated with the Order of the Thistle which in the 17th century adopted the wonderful motto, Nemo me impune lacessit (nobody attacks me with impunity) no doubt in reference to the spines. This ancient order may date to Emperor Charlemagne in the 9th century or, as some suggest, Scotland's James III (1488-1513). Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587) had the thistle's image incorporated into the Great Seal of Scotland, making it a national symbol for longevity. Perhaps the most famous poem about this plant is by Hugh MacDiarmid. Christopher Murray Grieve (1892-1978) who in his masterpiece A Drunk Man Looks at a Thistle (1926) writes the following wonderful lines:
"Rootit on gressless peaks, whar its erect / And jaggy leaves, austerely cauld and dumb / Haud the slow scaly serpent in respect / The Gothic thistle, whar the insects hum"
The following words from the same work are engraved on MacDiarmid's gravestone in Langholm:
"I ha'nae hauf-way hoose, bu aye be whaur / Extremes meet - it is the only way I ken
To dodge the curst conceit o' bein' richt / Tha Dams the vast majority o' men."
Sir Walter Scott
Mary Queen of Scots
King James III (1488-1513)
Hugh MacDiarmid
James Scott Skinner
Shuttlecock Fern (Ostrich Fern)
Matteuccia struthiopteris, family Dryopteridaceae/Woodsiaceae
Season - April to October
(Associations - Birth)
Shuttlecock Fern
- surviving since the dinosaur era
The plant has survived since before the early Tertiary, around the time of the extinction of the dinosaurs 54 to 38 million years ago. Since then it has coped with the rigours of the Ice Ages and the impact of man and climate change. It is quite remarkable that it can still be found within the area of what is thought to be its original distribution, Europe, Asia and North America. There is no evidence of it being used medicinally in Europe but we do know that the native American Cree used it as a birthing aid. Today, in some parts of the world the young fronds are cooked and eaten, they are even processed and sold in tins!
Also knows as the
Ostrich Fern
Sowbread
Cyclamen coum, family Primulaceae
Season - January to March
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
Cyclamen coum
First listed by the English herbalist John Gerard (1545-1612) in 1597, this winter-flowering species is found naturally from Bulgaria to Iran and North East Turkey, where it was once used as a swine fodder. The petals were used in tea and a snuff, which was thought to cure baldness, was prepared from the roots. In ancient Greece the plant was associated with the goddess Hecate the protectress of enchanters and witches. It was also used as a contraceptive and love potion and may also have been used in midwifery during confinement.
Cyclamen coum
once used for love potions
Cyclamen hederifolium
Season - September to October
The best of the hardy cyclamen, it was introduced from the eastern Mediterranean prior to 1600. It is often referred to as sow bread because the corms looked like small loaves and were thought to have been favoured by pigs in the wild. According to the Greek philosopher Theospartus (c.327-c.287BC) it was used to excite love and voluptuous desires. It was also valued by midwifes, although why is unclear. Under the doctrine of signatures it was associated with the stomach, a tincture 'ointment of arthainta' was prepared from the corms and used to treat worms in both adults and children. In ancient Greek mythology sowbread was associated with the goddess Hecate, the queen of ghosts who was accompanied by hell-hounds.
Cyclamen hederifolium
Sweet Violet
Viola odorata, family Violaceae
Season - March to May
(Associations - Famous Scots, Marriage, Death)
Sweet Violet
This scented and seductive violet is linked to Aphrodite the goddess of love. Traditionally it was presented to bride or the bridegroom on the day of their wedding, the flowers were often dried and kept as a memento, hence they are occasionally found in family bibles. The plant also has a dark side as it is dedicated to Persephone or Proserpina who in classical mythology was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter who whilst picking flowers in the meadow including violets and daffodils was carried off by Hades to the underworld, where she became his Queen Consort. Later she would be released to return to the earth briefly for a few months each year. The Scottish poet and novelist James Hogg (1770-1835) clearly enjoyed the native flora and fauna. For instance, in his work The Forest Minstrel (1810) he often writes about his love of specific plants including the sweet violet which grows in the Scottish Borders.
How Foolish are Mankind
Far dearer to me is the humble ewe-gowan,
The sweet native violet, or the bud of the broom,
Than the fine fostered flowers in the garden a growing,
Though sweet be their savour and bonnie their bloom.
Far dearer to me is the thrush or the linnet,
than the fine bird from a far foreign tree.
James Hogg
Vervain
Verbena bonariensis, family Verbenaceae
Season - June to September
(Associations - Birth, Marriage, Death)
Vervain, originally South American
This popular ornamental species is from South America. The less decorative common European Vervain, Verbena officinalis was considered by the Greeks, the Romans and the Celts to be sacred and they used it to cleanse the altars within their temples. It was also used medicinally for a variety of ailments including pains in the womb, and relief during confinement. Since antiquity it has been dedicated to the goddess Venus. This resulted in its use as a love potion throughout Europe until just before the 1950's. There is evidence to suggest that it was being given to young newly-weds right up until that time by those with a sense of mischief. It is steeped in magic and folk-lore and was very much seen as a plant which would bring protection from evil and death.
Once used in love potions
White Rose of Scotland (Scots Rose, Burnet Rose)
Rosa spinosissima (Syn. Rosa pimpinellifolia), family Rosaceae
Season - May to October
(Associations - Homecoming, Birth, Marriage, Death, Heraldry, Tartan)
White Rose
Throughout Britain, Europe and Asia it is found on coastal sand dunes and limestone heath. Next to the thistle, Rosa spinosissima is probably our most emblematic native plant. It has been used as a Scottish emblem since Charles Edward Stuart or 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' (1720-1788) and may have been the source of the Jacobite white cockade. The Burnet Rose has become a symbol of Scotland, celebrated in song and poetry. Under the pen name Hugh MacDairmid, Christopher Murray Grieve (1892-1978) wrote these poignant words from 'The Little White Rose':-
The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland.
That sharp and sweet - and breaks my heart.
'Bonnie Prince Charlie'
Hugh MacDiarmid
George Keith
Wild Daffodil or Lent Lily
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, family Primulaceae
Season - March to April
(Associations - Death, Famous Scots)
Wild Daffodil
The wild daffodil is native to many parts of Britain and Europe. It takes its Latin name from the myth surrounding the river god Cephissus and the story of his son Narcissus who through his beauty had many admirers, including the nymph Echo. Narcissus refuted them all including her. Angered at his refusal she made him fall in love with his own reflection in the river, unable to move he wasted away until he died. This myth was studied by the famous Scottish classicist and anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) who wrote in his renowned work 'The Golden Bough' (1890) about his conviction that the myth originated from the belief that man's soul is situated in his reflection. Ancient mythology also tells us about Hades the Greek god of the underworld capturing Persephone and taking her to the underworld as she was picking daffodils in the Elysian Fields. It is this myth which probably led to the common idea that the daffodil was a flower of the underworld. As such it was associated with death and was therefore used in wreaths and planted on graves, as it still is today. In the Christian Faith it is linked to the Virgin Mary and several of the saints, it is even occasionally referred to as Mary's Star. Look closely in renaissance religious art and you will often see it present as a symbol of the resurrection, self-sacrifice and eternal life. To the Chinese it represents prosperity and happiness.
Sir James George Frazer
Wild Daffodil, often present in
Renaissance art
Wild Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus, family Iridaceae
Season - April-October (Form), April-May (Flowers)
(Associations - Tartan, Famous Scots, Death, Heraldry)
Wild Flag Iris
The wild flag iris was a traditional natural dye used for both tartan and tweed. The roots were harvested and processed with bog iron or copperas as a mordant to make either black or dark blue dyes; they were also made into ink. The leaves were also made into dyes for tartans and tweed providing a bright green dye when mixed with alum as mordant. The roots were also used medicinally in many parts of the Highlands. In his History of Scottish Medicine (1932), J. D. Comrie speaks of their use as a laxative by Gaels in the Middle Ages. The author Martin Martin (c. 1660-1719) from Bealach in Skye, in his famous work A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Circa 1695, first published in 1793, writes of iris roots being dried and ground into a powder for use as snuff to treat headaches and colds. Martin's book was used by Boswell and Johnson during their famous tour of the Western Isles in 1773 and is still in print today. To the Greeks Iris was the messenger of the gods, she is also said to have brought the souls of women to the land of Eternal Peace. This could be why they were often planted near graves. The plant is the origin of an important heraldic symbol, the fleur-de-lis, the use of which dates back into antiquity. Around 1060, it was adopted by the French Kings as a heraldic symbol, it has featured in the Royal Arms of Scotland, since the time of King James I of Scotland (1394-1437).
Traditional tartan dye
James I
Wood Anemone
Anemone nemerosa, family Ranunculaceae
Season - March to May
(Associations - Marriage, Death)
Wood Anemone
Native to Britain and Europe the wood anemone has been grown in gardens for centuries. There are various myths surrounding the origin of the plant including a belief that it sprung from the tears of Aphrodite or Venus who was grieving over the death of her lover Adonis. Another claim is that it is the embodiment of the nymph Anemone who was loved by Zephyrus and transformed into the flower by his jealous wife. Wood anemones have a short flowering season and for this reason, and the myths associated with them, the Ancient Greeks came to see them as a symbol of an early death. In some European countries they were even seen as the plant of the devil. Unlike many plants which were symbolic to the ancients they have not been adopted by Christianity although they are dedicated to certain Saints.
Ancient Greek symbol
of early death
Yew
Taxus baccata, family Taxaceae
Season - all year
(Associations - Death, Heraldry)
Yew shoot with cones
The native yew is surrounded by history and folklore. The Greeks and Romans dedicated it to Hecate, goddess of the underworld. Known as the 'tree of death', some cultures thought it was abundant in hell. It is also associated with Bacchus, god of wine and Artemis, goddess of hunting, who dipped her arrows in yew poison. Highland clansman were said to have drawn on its magical powers to threaten enemies. All this may account for its presence in so many Scottish churchyards. The wood was used to make English longbows, knife handles and furniture. Today the highly toxic sap is the source of the drug Taxol used to treat cancer. Yew is Clan Seton's plant badge, so the signature of one Alexander Seton connects the Yew with what is perhaps the most important document held at National Archives of Scotland, the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) and the reign of King Robert I 'The Bruce' (1316-1390). The 5th Lord Seton, George Seton (c. 1527-1558) was a staunch catholic and former Provost of Edinburgh. A firm supporter of Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587), his daughter was one of the four Marys sent to France with the young Queen in 1548. Mary Seton (1549-1615) returned with the Royal party in 1561 and remained with the Queen until her execution. She retired to a French nunnery.
King Robert I 'The Bruce'
George Seton
Yew tree
Mary, Queen of Scots
A partnership between the National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon© Crown copyright
