Many witches include plants in their sacred space, often to mark the four elemental quarters. By choosing a plant with the appropriate elemental association and putting it in the corresponding quarter, you honor the Watchtowers (the elemental guardians of the four quarters that “watch” over the sacred space) and support the energy of the sacred space. The following list contains some common plants and their elemental associations:

• Earth (north): Alfalfa sprouts, beets, corn, fern, honeysuckle, magnolia, moss, peas, potatoes, turnips, vervain

• Air (east): Anise, clover, dandelions, goldenrod, lavender, lily of the valley, marjoram, mint, parsley, pine

• Fire (south): Basil, bay, cactus, chrysanthemum, daylilies, dill, garlic, holly, juniper, marigolds, onions, rosemary, sunflowers

• Water (west): Aster, blackberries, catnip, cucumbers, daffodils, gardenias, geranium, iris, lettuce, lotus, roses, water lily, willow

Also consider the time of the year when selecting plants for your sacred space. Certain plants are linked with each zodiac sign.

• Aries: Holly, snapdragon, cactus, jonquil

• Taurus: Daffodil, clover, lilac, columbine, daisy

• Gemini: Azalea, honeysuckle, lily of the valley, heather

• Cancer: Iris, jasmine, water lily, white rose, gardenia

• Leo: Red rose, poppy, marigold, sunflower, dahlia

• Virgo: Lavender, myrtle, aster, fern, heather, daylily

• Libra: Cosmos, gardenia, pink rose, violet, hibiscus

• Scorpio: Orchid, violet, eucalyptus, foxglove, pinks, wolfsbane

• Sagittarius: Paperwhite narcissus, Christmas cactus, red clover, dandelion

• Capricorn: Holly, carnation, mistletoe, pansy

• Aquarius: Carnation, wild rose, lady slipper

• Pisces: Lotus, passion flower, violet, narcissus, wisteria

You can align yourself with cosmic energies by including plants whose energies correspond to the sign in which the sun is positioned at any given month.

Some witches choose plants to honor the gods and goddesses (as discussed earlier). If, for instance, a witch is working with Hera, a bowl of apples and a vase of irises would be suitable — and visually appealing. Of course, there's nothing wrong with surrounding yourself with plants you particularly enjoy, for their fragrance, color, or shape. From the green witch's viewpoint, all plants are sacred and all come from the Goddess.