Plant Badges

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

There are two species of juniper locally which bear a close resemblance to the aitionn (juniper) of Atholl. On occasion, I will use a sprig of Eastern Redcedar (J. virginiana) or Ashe Juniper (J. ashei) when they have the pretty blue berries against the green foliage.

[BoldHighlander]

This thread reminds me of two incidents in military history; At the battle of Minden on 1 August 1759, British soldiers reportedly plucked roses and wore them in their hats as they went into combat. The event was commemorated by the regiments (including the old KOSBs) on the anniversary with officers & ORs wearing a rose in their hats.

At the battle of Fredericksburg in the American Civil
War, members of the Irish Brigade wore springs of
Boxwood in their hats as they made the disasterous
charge up Mayre's Heights.

Not really a connection to Highland clans, but certainly similar to the OP.

T.

Add to that the sprigs of pine worn in the hats of Ferguson's Loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain in the American Revolution (the Overmountain Men, including my grandfather, wore pieces of paper in theirs for identification).

Patrick Ferguson was a Scotsman by the way