In this episode of Flowers & Folklore, we step into the shadowy world of the hellebore: a flower with rich history and many contradictions - the light and the dark.

We explore how this moody bloom has been linked to Christianity and witchcraft in equal measure, how it was used to create some surprising “magical powers”, its role in some juicy ancient goss and also there’s some goats eating things they absolutely shouldn’t.

To fully explore this little flower’s backstory we fall down more than one rabbit hole, but all of them bring us to the same conclusion - you’ll never look at The Christmas Rose the same way again.

Books, Art & Poetry

* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay

* “How to do the flowers” by Constance Spry

* Floriography by Jessica Roux

* Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker

* Encyclopædia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World by Cora Linn Daniels

* The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz

* Thanatos by Henry Kirke White

* Lyrics from Speyer service book from 1599

Artworks

‘Arts & Crafts Hellebore’ by Margaret Light

Click here to view the full article about Margaret’s gorgeous work.

Inspiration

* Hellebore and moth tattoo by Eleanor Gander (@eliluciitattoos)

* Winter arrangement by Constance Spry

* Hellebore arrangement by The Floral Coach

Have your own floral stories or lore about hellebore? We’d love to hear from you! We’re accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.com

Enjoy the episode!

Keeley & Sarah

Find Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | Pinterest

Find Keeley online: Instagram | Substack

More info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone.

In this episode of Flowers & Folklore: Garden Gossip, we chat about what’s been inspiring us lately and what flowers we’ve been working with recently.

Keeley tells us about viburnum, viburnum and more viburnum and Sarah tells us about the end of wedding season. Tangents include a trip through Keeley’s gorgeous garden and Haddon Hall’s recent exhibition Magic. Sarah also reveals her dislike of gyp and Jane Austen’s Emma.

Flowers & Floristry

* Keeley’s beautiful designs from college

* The Season of Abundance ran by Sophies Flower Co. Read Sarah’s essay about it on Substack

* The waxflower tree Sarah and the other students made at McQueens Flower School

What are Sarah and Keeley up to?

* Join Sarah in Glasgow for one of her wreath making workshops this winter

* Getting married in Scotland? Sarah is offering 10% off weddings booked by the end of November 2025

* Keeley has launched her gorgeous new business The Green Edit Studio

Have your own floral stories or lore? We’d love to hear from you! We’re accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.com

Enjoy the episode!

Sarah & Keeley

Find Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | Pinterest

Find Keeley online: Instagram | Substack

More info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone.