What do you think?
Rate this book
Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants
Now in paperback! Following the category-dominating success of Witchery , indigenous medicine woman and seer Juliet Diaz initiates readers following the current witchy trends of herbal medicine and magic into a deeper, wilder connection with the ancient healing power of over 200 plants.
All it will take is for you to slow down and pay attention to the world around you and, I promise, you will find the world within you.
Indigenous seer, gifted plant whisperer, and Witchery author Juliet Diaz invites you to walk the path of the Plant Witch. Journey far beyond the basic medicinal and magical properties of plants, deep into Mother Earth's drumming heart. Drawn from ancestral practices passed down by generations of teachers, the lessons in this book will awaken your intimate connection with nature, your ancestors, your guides, and to your true self through the powerful magic of plants.
Within these pages, you will
Even as humans forget our place in nature's rhythm and cause harm to our Earth Mother, the spirits of plants still call out to us, appear in our dreams, and inspire us as they push through cracks in cement-resilient and determined to thrive. From abre camino and acacia to yucca and ZZ plant, each has unique personality and wisdom to share if we are only willing to listen.
All it will take is for you to slow down and pay attention to the world around you and, I promise, you will find the world within you.
Indigenous seer, gifted plant whisperer, and Witchery author Juliet Diaz invites you to walk the path of the Plant Witch. Journey far beyond the basic medicinal and magical properties of plants, deep into Mother Earth's drumming heart. Drawn from ancestral practices passed down by generations of teachers, the lessons in this book will awaken your intimate connection with nature, your ancestors, your guides, and to your true self through the powerful magic of plants.
Within these pages, you will
Even as humans forget our place in nature's rhythm and cause harm to our Earth Mother, the spirits of plants still call out to us, appear in our dreams, and inspire us as they push through cracks in cement-resilient and determined to thrive. From abre camino and acacia to yucca and ZZ plant, each has unique personality and wisdom to share if we are only willing to listen.
368 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2021
251 people are currently reading
2781 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Diaz
25 books338 followersWRITER, AUTHOR, & LITERARY ACTIVIST
Juliet Diaz is a neurodivergent Indigenous Taíno and first-generation Cuban American, as well as an award-winning, internationally bestselling author, and activist.
Her writing is rooted in liberatory and decolonial themes, empowering others to reclaim their voices, align with their truth, and embrace their innate magic and humanity.
As the co-founder of the Literary Craft Society, she leads a revolutionary writing community dedicated to fostering change, healing, and liberation through the transformative power of words.
Her works, including Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery, The Altar Within, The Seasons of the Witch Oracle Deck series, and The Earthcraft Oracle Deck, have inspired thousands across the world to create meaningful change within themselves and their communities.
Join my newsletter community: https://iamjulietdiaz.substack.com
Website: www.iamjulietdiaz.com
Juliet Diaz is a neurodivergent Indigenous Taíno and first-generation Cuban American, as well as an award-winning, internationally bestselling author, and activist.
Her writing is rooted in liberatory and decolonial themes, empowering others to reclaim their voices, align with their truth, and embrace their innate magic and humanity.
As the co-founder of the Literary Craft Society, she leads a revolutionary writing community dedicated to fostering change, healing, and liberation through the transformative power of words.
Her works, including Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery, The Altar Within, The Seasons of the Witch Oracle Deck series, and The Earthcraft Oracle Deck, have inspired thousands across the world to create meaningful change within themselves and their communities.
Join my newsletter community: https://iamjulietdiaz.substack.com
Website: www.iamjulietdiaz.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 22, 2023
First thoughts in, the the book's more than a bit flowery on the romanticism in the introduction, and the trend continues throughout the book- much to my annoyance.
What strikes me next is the fact the books organization is... Questionable and jilted in an unpleasant way. For instance, I fail to understand what her life's story has to do with "becoming a Pant Witch"- nor why it appears a whopping six sections into the book and not at the beginning where it would actually make much more sense to include it. And the section on "Plant Language" is so small as to be nearly irrelevant and would have made much more sense properly combined with the "Plant wisdom" section that came after; the only part of the book whose organization makes sense is the literal list of plants and their properties, uses, etc. And that's so unbelievably hard to mess up I'd be concerned if she had.
The author also repeats herself frequently. This is definitely made worse by the fact that what she says has little (if any) actual substance to it; for a book on "Plant Witchery" it's mostly devoid of any actual significant methodology that would be useful in a book like this. What elements of the actual information section of the book is "useful" is mostly in the form of various spells- which themselves are seemingly blended with fairly stereotypical Neopagan platitudes and ideologies, including the stereotypical Neopagan "intent is key" sort of bent (although there are some that seem more in the realm of Sympathetic Magic, which imo is much better). Still, they're mostly just bland.
The explanation of magic and what it is, however, was near infuriating. Even more so when the author confidently asserts that "[magic won't work to its] full potential if the energy within you is not at a positive state, if you aren’t connected to your truth [...] As you learn, your Magic will evolve, expand, and become an integral force in your life—but only if you accept yourself and your part as a piece of a greater whole". Which, frankly, we all know is blatantly false. More importantly this sort of "positive vibes only" culture is incredibly damaging no matter what system you're operating within; it's an idea that needs to be done away with permanently once and for all.
I do hate it especially, though, when authors try to make "Plant Witchery" (Greencraft, please just say Greencraft I beg you) into something it's not. Especially when they attempt to make it into some ecological call to activism when it isn't. It's obnoxious to constantly see it leveled that way; point blank, all Greencraft is, is a focus on the use of plants and their various elements and spirits in your craft. You're welcome to add the elements of activism and deep earth connection if they resonate with you of course. But it is not, by its very nature, an activist path- nor does it mean, or even require, that you have or develop "a deeper connection" with the Earth. And the true irony I've found in 20 years of practice, is really that those following such green paths are quite frequently the opposite: Detached from their own green, and obsessed with a generic green that doesn't actually exist.
The truly annoying bit about the way the author speaks in the book in general, however, is that it's almost clear they're speaking largely from a cultural frame of reference. Or, at the very least, she certainly brings it up often enough- including outright positioning indigenous people as "more connected to nature", and her culture in particular as more special / unique than others in this regard. And these mentions seem to be leveraged throughout the book mostly as a way of establishing authority in a sort of way that screams "look at me, I'm indigenous and come from a culture whose connection to the earth is unique to others!". She also makes a big deal of how "this book goes far beyond just teaching about the medicinal and Magical properties of plants, as it holds information you can get only from me", which just feels obnoxious in light of that fact... But it's just not close enough.
When you actually read through the book, however, her claims and statements are highly generalized and far too broad. they also contain a significant Neopagan bent that clashes with the cultural one; even when it is clear she's speaking about her own culture, the entire book reads as an attempt to over-generalize and speak for all of Greencraft- and the vast majority of those broad statements are patently incorrect when you look at the wide variety of plant and earth based practices which exist not just in the modern day west, but stretching across a variety of cultures and time periods.
The rest of the book is ok. Nothing special, though admittedly unique to lists of plants in other books (such as Plant Magic, for instance). I will give the author credit for that at least; each contains the plant's scientific name, has a small list of magical properties, and then a paragraph or so each on Medicinal use, magical use, and "Plant Wisdom". Some include a few spells as well- and occasionally there's a black and white illustration of the plant. But of course absolutely no bibliography exists, and no sources are made for any of the claims even when there really should be (such as in the case of any medicinal claims).
ETA 9/28/2021: After actually using this book as an encyclopedic reference on and off since initially reading it (supplemented by other encyclopedias in my collection), I'm come to vaguely respect the unique way in which Diaz looks at and approaches the plants in the book, in a strange way. The book still annoys me in many regards, and I don't find her explanations nearly sufficient enough- in fact, in many areas she'll mention something in the plant's blurb that I'd expect her to expand on in another section... Only to never mention it again. A fact which infuriates me to no end. That said, there are some unique takes I'm inclined to appreciate from here far more so than from any other author out there (a great example being her wisdom on Pine).
I still think I vastly preferer Plant Magic for its precursor content itself, as it actually does contain more substantial tips and methodology that this one lacks and that makes a huge difference in the books' quality... I still can't say I'd actually recommend Diaz's work at all, actually... But I can't say my opinion remains quite as negative as it initially was on first reading. If anything I think I've moved from the original emotions of extreme annoyance to now being only mildly annoyed with a side of new disappointment that feels more like crushed hope the more I revisit it.
This books could have been an amazing masterpiece celebrating the author's unique personal and cultural relationship with these plants. But instead it falls several arrows short of the mark by far. And it's a shame, really. Because the tiny, bright little glimmers are there. She just... doesn't get it. And I don't know if that's her failure, or the failure of the publisher. But it's genuinely sad to see it fail so badly.
What strikes me next is the fact the books organization is... Questionable and jilted in an unpleasant way. For instance, I fail to understand what her life's story has to do with "becoming a Pant Witch"- nor why it appears a whopping six sections into the book and not at the beginning where it would actually make much more sense to include it. And the section on "Plant Language" is so small as to be nearly irrelevant and would have made much more sense properly combined with the "Plant wisdom" section that came after; the only part of the book whose organization makes sense is the literal list of plants and their properties, uses, etc. And that's so unbelievably hard to mess up I'd be concerned if she had.
The author also repeats herself frequently. This is definitely made worse by the fact that what she says has little (if any) actual substance to it; for a book on "Plant Witchery" it's mostly devoid of any actual significant methodology that would be useful in a book like this. What elements of the actual information section of the book is "useful" is mostly in the form of various spells- which themselves are seemingly blended with fairly stereotypical Neopagan platitudes and ideologies, including the stereotypical Neopagan "intent is key" sort of bent (although there are some that seem more in the realm of Sympathetic Magic, which imo is much better). Still, they're mostly just bland.
The explanation of magic and what it is, however, was near infuriating. Even more so when the author confidently asserts that "[magic won't work to its] full potential if the energy within you is not at a positive state, if you aren’t connected to your truth [...] As you learn, your Magic will evolve, expand, and become an integral force in your life—but only if you accept yourself and your part as a piece of a greater whole". Which, frankly, we all know is blatantly false. More importantly this sort of "positive vibes only" culture is incredibly damaging no matter what system you're operating within; it's an idea that needs to be done away with permanently once and for all.
I do hate it especially, though, when authors try to make "Plant Witchery" (Greencraft, please just say Greencraft I beg you) into something it's not. Especially when they attempt to make it into some ecological call to activism when it isn't. It's obnoxious to constantly see it leveled that way; point blank, all Greencraft is, is a focus on the use of plants and their various elements and spirits in your craft. You're welcome to add the elements of activism and deep earth connection if they resonate with you of course. But it is not, by its very nature, an activist path- nor does it mean, or even require, that you have or develop "a deeper connection" with the Earth. And the true irony I've found in 20 years of practice, is really that those following such green paths are quite frequently the opposite: Detached from their own green, and obsessed with a generic green that doesn't actually exist.
The truly annoying bit about the way the author speaks in the book in general, however, is that it's almost clear they're speaking largely from a cultural frame of reference. Or, at the very least, she certainly brings it up often enough- including outright positioning indigenous people as "more connected to nature", and her culture in particular as more special / unique than others in this regard. And these mentions seem to be leveraged throughout the book mostly as a way of establishing authority in a sort of way that screams "look at me, I'm indigenous and come from a culture whose connection to the earth is unique to others!". She also makes a big deal of how "this book goes far beyond just teaching about the medicinal and Magical properties of plants, as it holds information you can get only from me", which just feels obnoxious in light of that fact... But it's just not close enough.
Once again I am also forced to remind people that not only is there no one culture who is more "in tune" with the Earth than another, but the concept of the "spiritually and ecologically in-tuned native" is a modern myth / creation; I am left still deeply encouraging people to read Convenient Myths.
When you actually read through the book, however, her claims and statements are highly generalized and far too broad. they also contain a significant Neopagan bent that clashes with the cultural one; even when it is clear she's speaking about her own culture, the entire book reads as an attempt to over-generalize and speak for all of Greencraft- and the vast majority of those broad statements are patently incorrect when you look at the wide variety of plant and earth based practices which exist not just in the modern day west, but stretching across a variety of cultures and time periods.
The rest of the book is ok. Nothing special, though admittedly unique to lists of plants in other books (such as Plant Magic, for instance). I will give the author credit for that at least; each contains the plant's scientific name, has a small list of magical properties, and then a paragraph or so each on Medicinal use, magical use, and "Plant Wisdom". Some include a few spells as well- and occasionally there's a black and white illustration of the plant. But of course absolutely no bibliography exists, and no sources are made for any of the claims even when there really should be (such as in the case of any medicinal claims).
ETA 9/28/2021: After actually using this book as an encyclopedic reference on and off since initially reading it (supplemented by other encyclopedias in my collection), I'm come to vaguely respect the unique way in which Diaz looks at and approaches the plants in the book, in a strange way. The book still annoys me in many regards, and I don't find her explanations nearly sufficient enough- in fact, in many areas she'll mention something in the plant's blurb that I'd expect her to expand on in another section... Only to never mention it again. A fact which infuriates me to no end. That said, there are some unique takes I'm inclined to appreciate from here far more so than from any other author out there (a great example being her wisdom on Pine).
I still think I vastly preferer Plant Magic for its precursor content itself, as it actually does contain more substantial tips and methodology that this one lacks and that makes a huge difference in the books' quality... I still can't say I'd actually recommend Diaz's work at all, actually... But I can't say my opinion remains quite as negative as it initially was on first reading. If anything I think I've moved from the original emotions of extreme annoyance to now being only mildly annoyed with a side of new disappointment that feels more like crushed hope the more I revisit it.
This books could have been an amazing masterpiece celebrating the author's unique personal and cultural relationship with these plants. But instead it falls several arrows short of the mark by far. And it's a shame, really. Because the tiny, bright little glimmers are there. She just... doesn't get it. And I don't know if that's her failure, or the failure of the publisher. But it's genuinely sad to see it fail so badly.
June 24, 2021
A breath of fresh air. Aside from the 200-plant reference of the author’s favorite magical plants, the rest of the reading was a breeze, but information that I felt was extremely valuable. She shared some of her most memorable experiences with plants, which brought me back to the quiet of my childhood, where I spent a lot of time hanging out with plants in solitude.
In the first piece she shared what her mystical gifts are and why she calls herself a plant witch, which was fascinating and kept me intrigued. Then she discusses the naturally reciprocal exchanges in/with nature, what magic is, how to connect with plants and learn their language, the magical potencies of the sun, moon, and seasons, and some basic practices to increase your connection with plants. I wish there was even more of this first half of the book. Not that it felt lacking, I just enjoyed it so much I wish there was more of it.
Something in particular gave me an aha-moment, which was quite exciting. I’ve been stumped about why certain low light plants seem to be thriving in my office (Peace Lillies, Arrowhead, Zz plant) while others slowly became sad. I have a grow light on where I keep my plants and I tend to them, so they’re not neglected. I was stumped by this feeling that my Chocolate Chinese Evergreen was sad, but thought it was my imagination. Low and behold, a few weeks after I placed them there, they started drooping, getting spots, and becoming more and more visibly miserable. After reading up on what Diaz had to say about this plant personalities, it made a little more sense to me why they weren’t happy in that room!
She writes about Chinese Evergreen: “Her language isn’t like most other plants; where normally I can literally speak to plants, Chinese evergreen prefers energy communication, as she likes to keep her own headspace clear.”
Did I mention my office is used for psychotherapy all day? Lots of things are being discussed in there. I figured out she’s too sensitive to listen to verbiage about emotions day in and day out!
On the other hand, Peace Lillies are “among the best plants to work with for self-love and inner healing,” and “Arrowhead’s superpowers are in healing trauma—and giving you the strength, courage, and protection you need to do this healing work.” No wonder they’ve been more confident as witnesses in the therapy room.
I finished the book feeling inspired to take more time with my plant friends, be more aware of my interactions with them, to bond with their unique individual spirits, and to listen and learn about the silent personalities all around me. I’m excited to start mindfully incorporating plant care in my spiritual practice.
In the first piece she shared what her mystical gifts are and why she calls herself a plant witch, which was fascinating and kept me intrigued. Then she discusses the naturally reciprocal exchanges in/with nature, what magic is, how to connect with plants and learn their language, the magical potencies of the sun, moon, and seasons, and some basic practices to increase your connection with plants. I wish there was even more of this first half of the book. Not that it felt lacking, I just enjoyed it so much I wish there was more of it.
Something in particular gave me an aha-moment, which was quite exciting. I’ve been stumped about why certain low light plants seem to be thriving in my office (Peace Lillies, Arrowhead, Zz plant) while others slowly became sad. I have a grow light on where I keep my plants and I tend to them, so they’re not neglected. I was stumped by this feeling that my Chocolate Chinese Evergreen was sad, but thought it was my imagination. Low and behold, a few weeks after I placed them there, they started drooping, getting spots, and becoming more and more visibly miserable. After reading up on what Diaz had to say about this plant personalities, it made a little more sense to me why they weren’t happy in that room!
She writes about Chinese Evergreen: “Her language isn’t like most other plants; where normally I can literally speak to plants, Chinese evergreen prefers energy communication, as she likes to keep her own headspace clear.”
Did I mention my office is used for psychotherapy all day? Lots of things are being discussed in there. I figured out she’s too sensitive to listen to verbiage about emotions day in and day out!
On the other hand, Peace Lillies are “among the best plants to work with for self-love and inner healing,” and “Arrowhead’s superpowers are in healing trauma—and giving you the strength, courage, and protection you need to do this healing work.” No wonder they’ve been more confident as witnesses in the therapy room.
I finished the book feeling inspired to take more time with my plant friends, be more aware of my interactions with them, to bond with their unique individual spirits, and to listen and learn about the silent personalities all around me. I’m excited to start mindfully incorporating plant care in my spiritual practice.
February 23, 2022
The most superficial listing of plant symbolism and botanical/magical properties I have on my shelf, which is painful to admit. The entry for rue, an ancient and important herb, amounts to…not much information. Maybe people should know that rue (moly in Greek) was believed to be the plant which Hermes gave to Odysseus as protection against Circe’s potion? Bloodroot is feminine AND masculine, why not at least mention the King root and Queen root, and there’s a way to know which is which by the their color? “…this book goes far beyond just teaching about the medicinal and Magical properties of plants, as it holds information you can get only from me…” Sheesh. This is an incredible statement from the author of this incredibly bland book. Appreciate that she doesn’t use Magickal, at least. Please seek out Occult Botany: Sédir’s Concise Guide to Magical Plants originally published in Paris in 1902. It’s been newly translated, edited and annotated by R. Bailey and published by Inner Traditions (2021). It’s a splurge, but amazing and worth every dollar.
November 7, 2023
Pasiėmiau šią knygą skaityti, nes turiu labai daug augalų ir visus labai myliu. Knygoje autorė pasakojo savo istoriją, iš kokios genties kilusi, kuri bendrauja su augalais ir, kad ji gali suprasti augalų kalbą. Kiekvienas augalas turi savo charakterį ir mus gali išmokyti skirtingų dalykų. Prieš skinant augalus reikia jų atsiklausti ir padėkoti. Gal daug kam tai ir atrodo juokinga, bet aš pakeičiau požiūrį į augalus ir dabar juos dar labiau myliu, pakalbinu belaistant ir padėkoju jei reikia nusiskinti kokį lapelį.
Taip pat autorė pateikia 200 augalų, jų magiškas savybes bei gydomąsias, nes autorė studijavo netradicinę mediciną. Buvo labai įdomu skaityti apie tiek daug augalų ir sužinoti jų magiškas savybes. Nors esu daug skaitęs apie augalų magiją, tačiau ši knyga buvo tikrai po kol kas įdomiausia ir naudingiausia.
Rekomenduoju visiems, kurie domisi augalais iš medicinos ir magiškos pusės.
Taip pat autorė pateikia 200 augalų, jų magiškas savybes bei gydomąsias, nes autorė studijavo netradicinę mediciną. Buvo labai įdomu skaityti apie tiek daug augalų ir sužinoti jų magiškas savybes. Nors esu daug skaitęs apie augalų magiją, tačiau ši knyga buvo tikrai po kol kas įdomiausia ir naudingiausia.
Rekomenduoju visiems, kurie domisi augalais iš medicinos ir magiškos pusės.
November 28, 2025
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 2 out of 5 stars
I had such high hopes for this book, I am absolutely devastated that it was not what I had anticipated it to be. The beginning of the book and the introduction was incredibly short and heavily romanticized, which seemed to be a theme that continues throughout the book. Juliet Diaz seems like a lovely woman but some of the misinformation in this book was craaaaazy. I know other people have said this but Catnip SHOULD NOT be used to help morning sickness, it is actually very harmful to pregnant women. She also used the term "Black Magic" which left such a bad taste in my mouth. The term "Black Magic" is so incredibly outdated and has roots in racism. I expect better of a well-seasoned practitioner, let alone someone who is Indigenous and talks about being respectful to other cultures. I also did not like that she did not site any sources for her claims on plants properties and correspondences. She more or less just said "The plant told me so therefore it is." I can respect that but it would have been wise to back-up her claims. Just another reminder that as witches we should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS cross-source and triple check that the information is accurate and that we are not appropriating from cultures we are not from.
Bad things aside, I did enjoy learning about the plants. Learning about the medicinal properties, as well as the magical correspondences was fun. I do actually feel compelled to purchase and create a relationship with some of the plants in the book, which is something I am very grateful for, but I think I would've gotten that from any other book. Just find a better book about plants, green witchery, and herbs. I do not think this book was worth it.
I had such high hopes for this book, I am absolutely devastated that it was not what I had anticipated it to be. The beginning of the book and the introduction was incredibly short and heavily romanticized, which seemed to be a theme that continues throughout the book. Juliet Diaz seems like a lovely woman but some of the misinformation in this book was craaaaazy. I know other people have said this but Catnip SHOULD NOT be used to help morning sickness, it is actually very harmful to pregnant women. She also used the term "Black Magic" which left such a bad taste in my mouth. The term "Black Magic" is so incredibly outdated and has roots in racism. I expect better of a well-seasoned practitioner, let alone someone who is Indigenous and talks about being respectful to other cultures. I also did not like that she did not site any sources for her claims on plants properties and correspondences. She more or less just said "The plant told me so therefore it is." I can respect that but it would have been wise to back-up her claims. Just another reminder that as witches we should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS cross-source and triple check that the information is accurate and that we are not appropriating from cultures we are not from.
Bad things aside, I did enjoy learning about the plants. Learning about the medicinal properties, as well as the magical correspondences was fun. I do actually feel compelled to purchase and create a relationship with some of the plants in the book, which is something I am very grateful for, but I think I would've gotten that from any other book. Just find a better book about plants, green witchery, and herbs. I do not think this book was worth it.
December 11, 2022
I wanted to like this book so much. But so much of it is so so wrong that I can't.
The information for catnip being good for morning sickness is false, as it is actually harmful to take during pregnancy and can induce miscarriage. And if this piece of information is wrong, I have no idea what else is.
The generalization of Native American and Indigenous peoples was confusing and upsetting. I couldn't tell if she was interchanging those terms or not (given that all Native Americans are Indigenous, but not all Indigenous people are Native Americans - which Diaz gives the impression of understanding by talking so much about her Cuban Indigenous roots). Not all Native American tribes practice and believe in the same things. The generalization ignores the individuality of each of those cultures and lumps them all together.
In her first book, Witchery, Diaz mentions that we should all be respectful of other cultures that modern Witchcraft has appropriated from. She mentions certain terms not to use out of respect if you aren't a part of that culture and then for the entirety of this book does not follow her own advice.
The most annoying part of this whole book is that she talks about the medicinal, scientific properties of these plants and then listing no sources. There is no bibliography whatsoever. Plants can be extremely dangerous and giving this kind of information with no source to back it up besides "the plant told me" is...frankly ridiculous.
The one thing I did like about this book is that, as a beginner it has given me a bit of an idea of the things I would further like to learn.
Edit 12/10/2022:
I keep thinking about this damn book....all goddamn year I have been thinking.
I have read a few compendiums of plants since I have read this one and GOOD GRIEF. This book implies itself to be a plant dictionary and instead is a book about Diaz's ability to talk to and invite plant spirits into her dreams. As mentioned previously, some of the information she gives is just completely inaccurate. Some of the necessary warnings some of these plants should come with is just not there.
This is also the most lazily written plant compendium I have read. The first few dozen enteries have a lot of spirit and energy behind them and then she just.....loses energy. Until a plant she really particularly likes comes up!!!! Annnnnd then the energy falls again. Her enteries for the last several are severely lacking the knowledge she so clearly has for the first few dozen plants...the book is clearly written chronologically and I just can't help wondering why, especially since her writing clearly reflects how exhausted she seemed to be writing it, which in turn made me feel exhausted reading it.
Anyways maybe with this update I can finally stop thinking about it.
The information for catnip being good for morning sickness is false, as it is actually harmful to take during pregnancy and can induce miscarriage. And if this piece of information is wrong, I have no idea what else is.
The generalization of Native American and Indigenous peoples was confusing and upsetting. I couldn't tell if she was interchanging those terms or not (given that all Native Americans are Indigenous, but not all Indigenous people are Native Americans - which Diaz gives the impression of understanding by talking so much about her Cuban Indigenous roots). Not all Native American tribes practice and believe in the same things. The generalization ignores the individuality of each of those cultures and lumps them all together.
In her first book, Witchery, Diaz mentions that we should all be respectful of other cultures that modern Witchcraft has appropriated from. She mentions certain terms not to use out of respect if you aren't a part of that culture and then for the entirety of this book does not follow her own advice.
The most annoying part of this whole book is that she talks about the medicinal, scientific properties of these plants and then listing no sources. There is no bibliography whatsoever. Plants can be extremely dangerous and giving this kind of information with no source to back it up besides "the plant told me" is...frankly ridiculous.
The one thing I did like about this book is that, as a beginner it has given me a bit of an idea of the things I would further like to learn.
Edit 12/10/2022:
I keep thinking about this damn book....all goddamn year I have been thinking.
I have read a few compendiums of plants since I have read this one and GOOD GRIEF. This book implies itself to be a plant dictionary and instead is a book about Diaz's ability to talk to and invite plant spirits into her dreams. As mentioned previously, some of the information she gives is just completely inaccurate. Some of the necessary warnings some of these plants should come with is just not there.
This is also the most lazily written plant compendium I have read. The first few dozen enteries have a lot of spirit and energy behind them and then she just.....loses energy. Until a plant she really particularly likes comes up!!!! Annnnnd then the energy falls again. Her enteries for the last several are severely lacking the knowledge she so clearly has for the first few dozen plants...the book is clearly written chronologically and I just can't help wondering why, especially since her writing clearly reflects how exhausted she seemed to be writing it, which in turn made me feel exhausted reading it.
Anyways maybe with this update I can finally stop thinking about it.
January 23, 2022
I really appreciated the section with all the information about plants and their medicinal value, and the section that discusses the seasons and moon phases. The first part of the book did not hold my attention well, it felt like the author repeated herself and I wasn't really sure where it was going. It's a valuable book, and I'm glad that I have it as a resource.
July 11, 2021
Seriously!?! This book suggests Cat Mint for morning sickness in pregnant women!! Cat Mint can bring on birthing. Early enough and it can also bring miscarriage! WTF!?! I didn't need to read more.
February 18, 2022
It was cute. I liked reading about Diaz's childhood. Some parts didn't completely come together for me.
September 23, 2022
Sehr informativ! Man hat nicht nur die "medizinische Wirkung" sondern auch die "magische Wirkung" und eine Erklärung was es ist bzw. was es tut! Allerdings hätte ich einen Index mit "medizinischer Wirkung" besser gefunden das die "magische". Wenn ich nach etwas suche dann meistens "Wundheilung" und nicht "Geldsegen" ^^ Vielleicht ging ich mit falschen Erwartungen ran aber das heisst nicht dass das Buch schlecht ist - im Gegenteil. Man muss einfach nur ein bisschen suchen bis man findet was man will und braucht :)
October 11, 2021
In jeder Frau steckt eine Hexe, so sagt man. Ich habe ein großes Interesse an Hexenbüchern und so war ich auch auf dieses Werk gespannt, um endlich auch selber die Magie in den Pflanzen zu entdecken.
Dieses Buch hat für mich leider einen Aspekt, den ich überhaupt nicht mag. Da ich gerne in meinem Garten arbeite, zurückschneide und den Rasen mähe, ja sogar mir Blumen für die Vase abschneide, war ich nicht sonderlich begeistert lesen zu müssen, dass Juliet Diaz die Schmerzensschreie der Pflanzen wahrnimmt und ihren Rasen / Wiese nicht mäht, sich bei jeder Pflanze entschuldigt, wenn sie etwas abschneiden muss. Ich finde es auch nicht besonders glaubhaft, da das Buch auf der Nutzung der Pflanzen beruht und Frau Diaz sich sicherlich auch von Obst, Gemüse, Kräutern ernährt und ich Schlachthäuser um einiges schlimmer finde und seit Jahren Vegetarier bin.
Doch das Buch hat auch positive Seiten, so kann man den Pflanzenteil auch als Orakel nutzen, was eine schöne Idee ist. Jede der porträtierten Pflanzen wird so vorgestellt: Wesentliche Eigenschaften, medizinische Eigenschaften, magische Eigenschaften und ihre Pflanzenweisheit. Das Finden meiner geliebten Ringelblume war im Pflanzenteil nicht so einfach, aber unter dem Buchstaben 'G' Garten-Ringelblume wurde ich dann fündig.
Im Buch finden sich auch verschiedene Zauber und Ritualanleitungen. Ich mag die Gedankengänge, die in Richtung Achtsamkeit und Meditation gehen.
Wer sich mit den Pflanzen und ihren Eigenschaften beschäftigen, Zauberrituale erlernen möchte, wird hier fündig. Als Lexikon wirklich hilfreich und schön gestaltet, nur die Einleitung der Autorin fand ich ziemlich drastisch (Beispiel Rasenmähen auf dem Friedhof) und hat mir das Buch leider etwas verleidet.
Dieses Buch hat für mich leider einen Aspekt, den ich überhaupt nicht mag. Da ich gerne in meinem Garten arbeite, zurückschneide und den Rasen mähe, ja sogar mir Blumen für die Vase abschneide, war ich nicht sonderlich begeistert lesen zu müssen, dass Juliet Diaz die Schmerzensschreie der Pflanzen wahrnimmt und ihren Rasen / Wiese nicht mäht, sich bei jeder Pflanze entschuldigt, wenn sie etwas abschneiden muss. Ich finde es auch nicht besonders glaubhaft, da das Buch auf der Nutzung der Pflanzen beruht und Frau Diaz sich sicherlich auch von Obst, Gemüse, Kräutern ernährt und ich Schlachthäuser um einiges schlimmer finde und seit Jahren Vegetarier bin.
Doch das Buch hat auch positive Seiten, so kann man den Pflanzenteil auch als Orakel nutzen, was eine schöne Idee ist. Jede der porträtierten Pflanzen wird so vorgestellt: Wesentliche Eigenschaften, medizinische Eigenschaften, magische Eigenschaften und ihre Pflanzenweisheit. Das Finden meiner geliebten Ringelblume war im Pflanzenteil nicht so einfach, aber unter dem Buchstaben 'G' Garten-Ringelblume wurde ich dann fündig.
Im Buch finden sich auch verschiedene Zauber und Ritualanleitungen. Ich mag die Gedankengänge, die in Richtung Achtsamkeit und Meditation gehen.
Wer sich mit den Pflanzen und ihren Eigenschaften beschäftigen, Zauberrituale erlernen möchte, wird hier fündig. Als Lexikon wirklich hilfreich und schön gestaltet, nur die Einleitung der Autorin fand ich ziemlich drastisch (Beispiel Rasenmähen auf dem Friedhof) und hat mir das Buch leider etwas verleidet.
September 19, 2021
No reviews or descriptions I found had a list of what 200 plants are included, so let me tell you: 90% of them are herbs. There are a few fruits and vegetables (apple, banana, garlic, ginger, orange), and the rest are flowers. Green Witch Oracle is the best resource I've found so far if you're like me and looking for more fruits and vegetables to Work with.
The highlight of this book are the plentiful recipes and Spells included.
The encyclopedia portion is lacking compared to other herbalism books, especially The Master Book of Herbalism. There isn't anything in this book that isn't covered by more comprehensive guides, plus there's only one page for most plants and NO correspondences!
There's also no bibliography, which I partially understand since the author drew from indigenous traditions, but I highly doubt 0% of the info included wasn't learned from another book. Even The Master Book of Herbalism and Green Witch Oracle have bibliographies for further research and cross-referencing.
Get it to learn new Spells and recipes, but get other books if you want an extensive reference guide with correspondences.
The highlight of this book are the plentiful recipes and Spells included.
The encyclopedia portion is lacking compared to other herbalism books, especially The Master Book of Herbalism. There isn't anything in this book that isn't covered by more comprehensive guides, plus there's only one page for most plants and NO correspondences!
There's also no bibliography, which I partially understand since the author drew from indigenous traditions, but I highly doubt 0% of the info included wasn't learned from another book. Even The Master Book of Herbalism and Green Witch Oracle have bibliographies for further research and cross-referencing.
Get it to learn new Spells and recipes, but get other books if you want an extensive reference guide with correspondences.
December 22, 2021
‘If you can’t feel our ancestors vibration through all the plants, trees, rivers, oceans, mountains and yourself… then you can’t feel your truth.’
Wat een heerlijk naslagwerk om magische kruiden en planten in op te kunnen zoeken. Juliet Diaz schrijft zo teder over planten, kruiden en magie.
Wat een heerlijk naslagwerk om magische kruiden en planten in op te kunnen zoeken. Juliet Diaz schrijft zo teder over planten, kruiden en magie.
September 14, 2021
An excellent resource from a witch who knows her stuff. I love her daily practice tips and the plant meditation she provides at the beginning of the book. Her Avocado Self-Love Tea recipe gave me something fun and creative to try with my leftover avocado seeds besides growing a veritable grove of mini avocado plants in my apartment. I look forward to trying some of her other suggestions when I have the ingredients. The alphabetical listing of plants makes the book easy to use as a reference, as does the listing by function at the end. Although Diaz includes only the plants with which she works the most frequently, I often was not disappointed when looking for a specific plant that came across my path. I also discovered a number of new plants from her that I was not familiar with before.
January 25, 2022
I completely understand the hype of this book. It's beautiful and really easily digestible. However, I will grab my Hedge Witch's herbal before I'd grab this one. Which is a shame really but I'm really glad to have added this one in my collection!
November 22, 2022
An amazing wealth of knowledge! Definitely a resource I’ll be coming back to again and again.
November 23, 2023
One of my favorite plant books from one of my favorite authors
December 16, 2020
I love that this is by an Indigenous author, and her cultural relationship with plants makes this book unique compared to most similar books! I would really loved to have seen some of the page count from the 200 herb profiles used to expand the first section discussing more of the theory on using & forming relationships with plants (which was excellent, I just want more of it!)
June 20, 2025
3.5 stars overall
The Good
I appreciate the spiritual focus of the book. While I've read several herbiaries this is one of the first that really focuses on the metaphysical and more animist parts of spirituality. While I definitely wish there was a bit more science in the section that specifically talks about plants in how they can be cared for or whether or not something was safe for house pets, I wouldn't say I'm upset that it's missing since that's not explicitly what the book was trying to achieve.
I also liked the quote pages as they were either something to think about or encouraging and it's a nice touch. The paradigm Diaz puts forth is pretty comforting as well; we are just like the plants and we should act like it at least a little. Grow unapologetically, you are not broken, etc. Sometimes it's a bit generalized or generic but it's a nice tie-in.
At the very back of the book is an index of magical associations and it's probably the most useful part of the book. If you're looking for a quick reference for trust or luck then you just peek in the back and it's right there without having to dig for it.
The Bad
There's some dangerous information in this book. I won't rehash other reviews but plants like catnip, aloe, roman chamomile specifically, and even fennel leaves and seeds in high enough amounts can induce miscarriage when ingested. In addition to lacking warnings, the warnings that are there are both inconsistent and harder to find.
It would have been much better for there to be a section dedicated to the dangerous and poisonous so you would go into it knowing you have to handle them with caution. It seems like only the plants that are commonly known to be toxic are warned against, such as Datura and Belladonna, so that suggests there wasn't a great deal of scientific research done before suggesting medicinal uses for each plant. This is further supported by the fact that there isn't a bibliography or any sort of reference list despite claiming to have an MS in Herbal Medicine and three unnamed herbalist certificates.
The Petty
While I enjoyed the stories about Diaz's youth, I did not like reading about how her particular indigenous ancestry was more special than the other indigenous tribes. I can understand pride in your ancestors though and maybe it just came across poorly.
I also do not particularly like the actual organizational structure of the book. It comes across like they were trying to fill more of the book space with spiritual background as there are large gaps created by page breaks and "sections" that are literally just three quarters of a page. I would have rather have seen more drawings of the plants and more recipes for foods or magic in addition to a more fleshed out paradigm even if it meant the book hit 400 pages.
The Good
I appreciate the spiritual focus of the book. While I've read several herbiaries this is one of the first that really focuses on the metaphysical and more animist parts of spirituality. While I definitely wish there was a bit more science in the section that specifically talks about plants in how they can be cared for or whether or not something was safe for house pets, I wouldn't say I'm upset that it's missing since that's not explicitly what the book was trying to achieve.
I also liked the quote pages as they were either something to think about or encouraging and it's a nice touch. The paradigm Diaz puts forth is pretty comforting as well; we are just like the plants and we should act like it at least a little. Grow unapologetically, you are not broken, etc. Sometimes it's a bit generalized or generic but it's a nice tie-in.
At the very back of the book is an index of magical associations and it's probably the most useful part of the book. If you're looking for a quick reference for trust or luck then you just peek in the back and it's right there without having to dig for it.
The Bad
There's some dangerous information in this book. I won't rehash other reviews but plants like catnip, aloe, roman chamomile specifically, and even fennel leaves and seeds in high enough amounts can induce miscarriage when ingested. In addition to lacking warnings, the warnings that are there are both inconsistent and harder to find.
It would have been much better for there to be a section dedicated to the dangerous and poisonous so you would go into it knowing you have to handle them with caution. It seems like only the plants that are commonly known to be toxic are warned against, such as Datura and Belladonna, so that suggests there wasn't a great deal of scientific research done before suggesting medicinal uses for each plant. This is further supported by the fact that there isn't a bibliography or any sort of reference list despite claiming to have an MS in Herbal Medicine and three unnamed herbalist certificates.
The Petty
While I enjoyed the stories about Diaz's youth, I did not like reading about how her particular indigenous ancestry was more special than the other indigenous tribes. I can understand pride in your ancestors though and maybe it just came across poorly.
I also do not particularly like the actual organizational structure of the book. It comes across like they were trying to fill more of the book space with spiritual background as there are large gaps created by page breaks and "sections" that are literally just three quarters of a page. I would have rather have seen more drawings of the plants and more recipes for foods or magic in addition to a more fleshed out paradigm even if it meant the book hit 400 pages.
January 18, 2021
This book has the exact format I look for when buying/reading books on plants. I love the encyclopedia format and I like how the author's tone was strong through out the book. I also love how house plants and other unusual plants had entries in this book.
There are two things I wish were different. I wish each entry had a sketch or image of the plant it was talking about. I would've gladly paid extra for that. And I wish the author hadn't shamed people who use plants to get high.
I personally do not smoke or use recreational drugs/plants, but I recognize that people and that it's not an evil thing to do. It just felt icky and unnecessary.
I also would've liked if the author told a few less stories about her life. While they were interesting, I kind of skipped some because I was reading this book to learn more about the plants in it.
There are two things I wish were different. I wish each entry had a sketch or image of the plant it was talking about. I would've gladly paid extra for that. And I wish the author hadn't shamed people who use plants to get high.
I personally do not smoke or use recreational drugs/plants, but I recognize that people and that it's not an evil thing to do. It just felt icky and unnecessary.
I also would've liked if the author told a few less stories about her life. While they were interesting, I kind of skipped some because I was reading this book to learn more about the plants in it.
August 24, 2023
I picked up Plant Witchery while visiting Hierophany & Hedge in Covington, Ky a few months ago, and while it's not a perfect plant guide, there are some great tidbits and facts to glean from it!
I enjoyed learning indigenous uses for plants, symbolism, suggested practices and uses, as well as some of the historical context which plants were used or named for!
Most of the plants are herbs, fruits and vegetables, which I usually work with, but I would say if you work with a wider variety of plants (or wish to), you might want a different book.
The intro was also a bit confusing and stilted, though I appreciate the author providing background on her experiences, indigenous upbringing and culture and intent. I didn't like the author's shaming of those who use substances or plants to get intoxicated and felt this was unnecessary.
Lastly, there's no bibliography, which I was a bit disappointed about. This seems more like a personal guide for the author, than a reference guide for others, but I still enjoyed reading it and making notes from it.
Always make sure to thoroughly research plants and their sources before consuming, handling or using in any capacity, to avoid allergic reactions, accidental poisoning or undesired effects, and drug/medication interaction, and be aware of what plants your pets can be around!
I enjoyed learning indigenous uses for plants, symbolism, suggested practices and uses, as well as some of the historical context which plants were used or named for!
Most of the plants are herbs, fruits and vegetables, which I usually work with, but I would say if you work with a wider variety of plants (or wish to), you might want a different book.
The intro was also a bit confusing and stilted, though I appreciate the author providing background on her experiences, indigenous upbringing and culture and intent. I didn't like the author's shaming of those who use substances or plants to get intoxicated and felt this was unnecessary.
Lastly, there's no bibliography, which I was a bit disappointed about. This seems more like a personal guide for the author, than a reference guide for others, but I still enjoyed reading it and making notes from it.
Always make sure to thoroughly research plants and their sources before consuming, handling or using in any capacity, to avoid allergic reactions, accidental poisoning or undesired effects, and drug/medication interaction, and be aware of what plants your pets can be around!
March 15, 2022
Juliet Diaz ist eine der modernen Hexen und jedes Mal, wenn ich etwas von ihr entdecke, muss ich es einfach haben. Dann auch noch ein Buch voller Pflanzen, vermischt mit Magie und Hexenkram? Meins!
Hier bekommt man nicht nur Infos über die Schönheiten der Natur, sondern auch die Verbindung zum Mystischen mitgeliefert und das total schön dargestellt. Ich finde das Buch sehr informativ, aber der Witchy Aspekt kommt auch hier nicht zu kurz, was mir persönlich am wichtigsten war.
Das Cover passt hier absolut zum Inhalt und ich war zusätzlich ganz überrascht, welchen Umfang das Buch hat. Ich hatte es mir viel kleiner und dünner vorgestellt.
Alles in allem kann ich es Naturverbundenen nur empfehlen und hoffe, dass wir noch mehr von Juliet Diaz zu lesen bekommen.
Hier bekommt man nicht nur Infos über die Schönheiten der Natur, sondern auch die Verbindung zum Mystischen mitgeliefert und das total schön dargestellt. Ich finde das Buch sehr informativ, aber der Witchy Aspekt kommt auch hier nicht zu kurz, was mir persönlich am wichtigsten war.
Das Cover passt hier absolut zum Inhalt und ich war zusätzlich ganz überrascht, welchen Umfang das Buch hat. Ich hatte es mir viel kleiner und dünner vorgestellt.
Alles in allem kann ich es Naturverbundenen nur empfehlen und hoffe, dass wir noch mehr von Juliet Diaz zu lesen bekommen.
June 18, 2022
As a Witch I’ve always wanted to be in tune with plants, but unfortunately I possess way more of a “black thumb” than a green one. I have several plant babies and I do my very best to keep them happy, but I’m not always successful. I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about plants and herbs and I found it to be an invaluable resource. Juliet has listed 200 plants in here and breaks down the uses for each, medicinally and spiritually. She even gives examples of how she works with each of these plants, which I love. Juliet co-hosts a podcast called The Elder Hour which is also all about plants and herbs and this book is the perfect reference guide to go along with it. I’m glad to have Plant Witchery on my shelves of witchy books to refer to again and again.
5 stars
5 stars
October 7, 2021
Great information!!
The only down side to this is book is I bought the Kindle and after reading it, I know I need to buy the hard copy as a reference. So much information given in such an interesting way. I loved hearing about the author’s personal interactions with plants and felt it enhanced the reading experience.
I love the mix of personal experience with a reference book. I need to look for everything she’s written, now. Highly recommend!!!
The only down side to this is book is I bought the Kindle and after reading it, I know I need to buy the hard copy as a reference. So much information given in such an interesting way. I loved hearing about the author’s personal interactions with plants and felt it enhanced the reading experience.
I love the mix of personal experience with a reference book. I need to look for everything she’s written, now. Highly recommend!!!
May 10, 2022
This is a wild and fascinating addition to my collection of books in herbal lore. I’m also a fan of the Elder Hour podcast. Most of the information is affirming. In some rare instances, the insights are really different to my matrilineal knowledge, but I love that. The differences and the unexpected anecdotes make for a really rich understanding.
July 7, 2025
I thought the book was very engaging and culturally aware. A true breath of fresh air in the witchy community. As an animist, I enjoyed deeply the connection Juliet has with plants and I learned a lot about how I can achieve a deep connection to plant spirits all around me. I'm excited to give what I learned a try!
November 15, 2025
In the front of this book, in small print, it states that this book shouldn't be a replacement for medical advice... and then proceededs to suggest medical advice. I'm tired of seeing it.
I found myself reading through and feeling like I needed a source for the information being given.
It felt a little too fantastical.
There are better books out there.
I found myself reading through and feeling like I needed a source for the information being given.
It felt a little too fantastical.
There are better books out there.
July 27, 2022
Such a great reference tool! I loved the way Juliet made subcategories under the plant (medicinal uses, magick uses, plant wisdom)
There’s so many plants and they’re all alphabetical
Her reference guide in the back is super helpful when you need and answer quick
Such a lovely read
There’s so many plants and they’re all alphabetical
Her reference guide in the back is super helpful when you need and answer quick
Such a lovely read
February 21, 2023
The book is sectioned in 3 parts.
Well, without being mean, part 1 was boring. I am wholeheartedly not interested in the life of the author and it seemed to me, that it was more directed at baby witches or newbies.
Part 2 was more informative and part 3 is the lexicon.
Well, without being mean, part 1 was boring. I am wholeheartedly not interested in the life of the author and it seemed to me, that it was more directed at baby witches or newbies.
Part 2 was more informative and part 3 is the lexicon.
December 29, 2023
Would have been better as just an encyclopedia. It is very personal for the author, and she consistently brings up her family ideas and personal views. A little too repetitive about it. But overall, a decent resourceful a beginner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews