Herb Robert
Geranium Robertanium
Herb Robert is a pretty little flower with a nasty smell, which is why it's named after the mischievous Goblin or House Sprite, Robert (and sometimes Robin) Goodfellow.
Robert was a renowned prankster. If you got on the wrong side of him, he'd play some rather nasty tricks on you. This pretty little flower also plays tricks - it tempts you with its good looks to get closer and give it a sniff, at which point its pungent pong hits your nose! Stinky! This is just the sort of thing Goblin Robert might have done.
Folklore tells us that every household has its own House Sprite. When they're happy, it's great, because they'll help you secretly at night. They might correct your homework, find and return lost items, or even tidy your room!
But if you upset these easily offended creatures, they'll pay you back with their tricks. Creepy noises in the night, a sock or shoe that goes missing, or even a smelly dead rat tucked away under the kitchen floor? Watch out! You've obviously upset your House Sprite!
But all is not lost. You can cheer House Sprites up with presents. Their favourite gifts being gold and silver. If you don't have such valuables lying around try being kind to animals instead, as that is also said to make House Sprites happy. And, of course, grow some Herb Robert in the garden or windowsill and you'll stay on the good side of your sprite!
Stories about Goblins or House Sprites, and especially of Robert Goodfellow, have been around for centuries. Even Shakespeare wrote about him, in his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", calling him Puck (from old English ‘Puca’). Puck's cheekiest trick was to turn someone's head into a donkey's head.
In the 16th century house sprites or goblins, including Robert Goodfellow, were described as wearing red clothes, being hairy and stinky. Just like Herb Robert!
Did someone cut themselves and are they bleeding? If you happen to grow Herb Robert, you can use it to stem the blood flow by making a poultice. Robert de Molesme (1028-1111), who founded the Cisterian monasteries, discovered this and some people think it was he, Herb Robert was named after, not Robert Goodfellow.
There are plenty of other names for Herb Robert: Pink pinafores, Bachelor’s Buttons, Granny-thread-the-needle, red robin, death come quickly, storksbill, fox geranium, stinking Bob, squinter-pip, crow's foot, or Roberts geranium - to name but a few!
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This newsletter is NOT a field guide for flower identification. It’s often difficult to tell the difference between harmless plants and poisonous plants and some flowers are rare and protected by law, so, NEVER pick or use any plants or flowers if you’re not sure about them.
illustrations and text ©Chantal Bourgonje