Our Favorite Botanical Reads and Magical Worlds

There’s something deeply nourishing about slipping into a good novel where the plants are more than scenery—they are alive, whispering their wisdom, guiding characters through transformation, healing, and magic. Whether you’re curled up with a cup of tea, taking a break from your garden, or seeking stories that rekindle your connection to the green world, herbal fiction can be a balm for the soul.

At Golden Poppy, we believe stories carry medicine too. Here are some of our favorite herbal-inspired tales—books and films where plant lore, kitchen witchery, healing herbs, and ancestral memory bloom through the pages.

🌿 Brynna Recommends

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
A feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends through the eyes of the women—priestesses, herbalists, and seers—who shape the world behind the scenes. Deeply goddess-centric and rooted in the sacred cycles of the Earth, this one is a true classic for anyone drawn to the intersection of myth, magic, and plant spirit devotion. The film adaptation captures some of its essence, but the book is richer.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (Film by Hayao Miyazaki)
This beloved animated film follows a young witch in training who flies off to find her way in the world—delivering herbal goods by broomstick, of course! While it’s not strictly about herbalism, it captures the essence of seasonal rhythms, magic, and earth connection that so many of us recognize in our own journeys. Other Miyazaki films, like Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro, echo these themes too.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
A sensory delight of a novel about a mother and daughter with otherworldly gifts who open a chocolate shop in a conservative French village. Though not explicitly herbal, the story is steeped in folk magic, ancestral inheritance, and the slow power of transformation through food, ritual, and feminine intuition.

🌿 Gen Recommends

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
A dual-timeline story that dances between 18th-century London and present-day, weaving the lives of an underground herbalist who crafts poisons for women trapped in abusive relationships and a modern-day historian who uncovers her secrets. A tale of empowerment, grief, and the hidden knowledge passed down through the hands of women.

🌿 Julie Recommends

Circe by Madeline Miller
A lush, lyrical retelling of the mythological witch Circe, daughter of Helios, this novel reimagines her story through a deeply feminist and herbalist lens. Cast out to a solitary island, Circe hones her craft—learning the language of plants, roots, and transformation. Her magic is rooted in the wild, in potion and poison, in the everyday miracle of the green world.
Perfect for: Lovers of myth, witchcraft, and deeply personal tales of self-discovery and botanical power.

🌿 Sarah Recommends

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (and film adaptation)
A heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of two sisters with a family lineage of herbal magic. Between love spells gone awry, midnight margaritas, and their cottage-based apothecary business, this story is a must-read/watch for those who love the blend of realism and enchantment that herbalists often live in.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Time-travel meets herbal medicine. When Claire, a WWII nurse, is transported to 18th-century Scotland, her knowledge of plants becomes her lifeline—and her gift to the community. A sweeping saga filled with botany, adventure, romance, and the power of healing hands.

🌿 Honorable Mentions from Our Bookshelf

The Last Wild Witch by Starhawk
A magical, rhyming tale for children and adults alike that speaks to the soul of the forest—and the wildness in us all. The perfect bedtime story for budding plant lovers and young witches.

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau
A broken woman. A mysterious job ad. A chance to heal in French castle gardens–but strange things are growing behind the ancient stone walls. This debut adult novel is an enchanting, modern-day take on The Secret Garden, sprinkled with magic. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.

The Faerie Apothecary by Andrea Stein
A whimsical and beautifully illustrated story that introduces children to herbalism through the eyes of faeries. Readers follow magical beings who gather herbs, make remedies, and care for their woodland communities. A gentle way to inspire wonder and respect for plant medicine in little ones.

Casita Brujita by Andrea Gutierrez Price
This bilingual tale follows a little witch and her enchanted house, where magic, herbs, and ancestral traditions mix. With charming artwork and rhythmic storytelling, Casita Brujita honors Latinx folk healing and invites children into a warm world of plant magic and cultural heritage.

The Tarot Deck Mess: Intro to the Major Arcana by Sarah Beck
A fun and friendly introduction to the archetypes of the Major Arcana, perfect for kids curious about tarot. With playful illustrations and accessible language, it helps children connect with symbolism and intuition—while encouraging reflection, self-awareness, and storytelling.

🌿 Additional Titles we haven’t read…yet

There are so many books out there that we haven’t read yet, and figured what better way to put them on our own personal reading lists than to add them to the blog post!

We also love this curated list from our friends at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, who sourced suggestions from their community and compiled dozens of stories where herbalists are protagonists, potions are plot devices, and the plant path is central to the narrative arc. Some standout gems:

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
A magical realism novel brimming with charm, Garden Spells follows the Waverley sisters, who possess subtle, inherited gifts—one of whom tends a garden where the plants have minds of their own. With an enchanted apple tree at its center, this story is about healing, family, and the quiet magic of herbal intuition.
Wise Child by Monica Furlong
Set in a mythical Celtic landscape, this coming-of-age tale follows a young girl sent to live with Juniper, a wise herbalist and healer. Through the seasons, Wise Child learns the ways of herbs, spells, and integrity. A beautifully written exploration of apprenticeship, magic, and choosing love over fear.
The Green Witch Mysteries by P L Matthews
This cozy mystery series blends lighthearted crime-solving with herbal magick. Each book features a green witch who uses her knowledge of plants and natural intuition to uncover secrets. Perfect for those who enjoy herbalism, tea-making, and a dash of witchy sleuthing.
Blackthorn & Grim series by Juliet Marillier
A richly woven Celtic fantasy trilogy that follows Blackthorn, a healer and wise woman bound by a fey bargain to offer help to anyone who asks. Alongside her companion Grim, she unravels dark mysteries and heals both bodies and spirits with her deep herbal knowledge. Steeped in folklore, grief, and redemption, this series is a gorgeous blend of plant magic, moral complexity, and atmospheric storytelling. Books in the series: Dreamer’s Pool, Tower of Thorns, Den of Wolves

There is also this beautiful list from the Arapahoe Library District, filled with herbal fiction and witchy reads:

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory (2019)
A captivating tale of a poor herbalist navigating social upheaval and class tensions, Gregory’s latest novel gives center stage to plant lore and healing traditions
Lavender Lies by Susan Wittig Albert (1999)
The first in the long-running China Bayles Mystery series: a former lawyer turned herb-shop owner solves crimes using her herbal wisdom and intuition
The Good People by Hannah Kent (2017)
A haunting historical novel where an herbalist’s healing work blurs the line between benevolence and supernatural suspicion in rural Ireland
The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman (1995)
A young adult gem that follows a girl apprenticed to a midwife in medieval England—she learns healing, plant lore, and her own inner strength
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (2002)
Set during the bubonic plague, a determined healer uses herbs to combat sickness and fear, offering hope and resilience in a devastated village
An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey (2015)
A lush, secret-steeped tale filled with mystery and herbal-infused cooking, where every herb has its own story
The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen (2008)
Lilian defies gender norms by taking over her father’s apothecary shop in historical England—navigating politics, property, and plant-based medicine
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters (2014 edition)
In the first Brother Cadfael mystery, a medieval monk herbalist investigates murder while practicing his botanical healing

Blog - Herbalism in Fiction