[1] They are usually worn affixed to the bonnet[2] behind the Scottish crest badge,[3] or pinned at the shoulder of a lady's tartan sash.
An authentic example of plants being used in this way (though not by a clan) were the sprigs of oats used by troops under the command of Montrose during the sack of Aberdeen.
Also, a number of the plants (and flowers) attributed as clan badges are only available during certain times of year.
Even though it is maintained that clan badges were used long before the Scottish crest badges used today, according to a former Lord Lyon King of Arms the oldest symbols used at gatherings were heraldic flags such as the banner, standard and pinsel.
Another large group is the Clan Chattan group (clans Mackintosh, Macpherson, Macgillivray, Macqueen, Macbain, Farquharson, Davidson) which have been attributed red whortleberry (sometimes called cranberry in Scotland), or bearberry, or boxwood.
Oak, attributed to the Buchanans, Camerons, Kennedys, Macfies, Stewarts, and Woods.
Crowberry, attributed to the Camerons, Macfies, and Macleans.
Cranberry has been attributed to the MacAulays and Macfarlanes. Both clans were centred in western
Dumbartonshire
. The Macfarlanes claim descent from the original
Earls of Lennox
. While no conclusive link exists for the MacAulays their descent from the same earls has been theorised.
Furze (also known as Gorse) has been attributed to the Carruthers, Logans, MacLennans, and Sinclairs. The Logans and MacLennans have been associated with each other by several 19th century writers, notably James Logan (note both clans also share the same tartan).
Broom, attributed to the Forbes, Homes, Mathesons, and Murrays.
Juniper, attributed to the Gunn, Macleods, Murrays, Nicolsons, and Rosses.
Boxwood, attributed to the Davidsons, Macbains, MacDuffs, Macgillivrays, Macqueens.
Holly, attributed to the Drummonds, MacInneses, MacMillans, Mathesons.
