The Ultimate Guide to Mythical Earth & Plant Creatures in Legends and Folklore

If you've ever seen a nature documentary, you'll know how fascinating it is that all living things are intricately entwined together, and greatly depend on one another to survive within their natural habitats.

If there isn't flower pollen available for honey bees, for example, the impact would be devastating on the entire circle of life.

In past civilisations, mythical creatures have been used to communicate the beauty and significance of nature, or alternatively, to beware of the wrath of nature and the fantastical beasts that protect it.

Mythical creatures, such as Nymphs in Greek Mythology, interestingly have their life force spiritually bound to specific species of trees, grottos and mountains, flora and fauna, and so on. Making them graceful and divine protectors/embodiments of nature. And henceforth giving those trees a mystical and spiritual energy.

And the folklore tale of the Chinese Dragon named Chi in Chinese Mythology helped to explain the goemorphology and formation of landscapes to ancient civilisations. Read on to discover how!

In our modern-day society, these myths and legends help to remind us of the magical charm and importance of plants and nature within our natural habitats.

You'll also be able to recognise some of the earthly beasts and spirits on this list, as they commonly make appearances in fantasy genre films/TV shows/books/etc.

This includes the Golem, most notably seen in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The Dwarves, most notably seen in the Lord of the Rings. Or Fauns, most notably seen as Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

So join me as we explore the mythical beasts/spirits/beings that are made of & are protectors of Earth and Plants.

Greek Mythology

Faun - half-human/half-goat Woodland Protector

• Appearance: Fauns can either be little or human-sized men who walk upright on their cloven goat legs and have little horns on their head and the ears of a goat. They are joyous creatures who are often up for a dance in floral woodlands and always seem to have a panpipe or flute to hand.
• Abilities: Fauns know the woodlands better than the back of their hands, and will often help to guide lost travellers (although they will trick you if they do not like you). They are followers of their fellow Faun, Pan (the Greek God of Wild Nature, Mountains & Meadows, and Shepherds & Flocks).
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Fauns are much more friendly and approachable compared to the wine-loving and womanizing Satyrs (who Fauns often get mixed up with).

Nymphs - Maidens of Nature

• Appearance: Young and beautiful female maidens, who are often adorned in flowers and bathing in pools of water. They often abide by the laws of chastity that Goddesses such as Artemis (Goddess of the Hunt, Wild Nature, and Chastity), Hestia (Goddess of the Hearth, Family, and Home), and Athena (Goddess of Wisdom, War Strategy, and Craft) uphold. Although other Nymphs were frequent lovers of Gods and powerful mortals.
• Abilities: Nymphs are a lower class of deity, and can live incredibly long lives. They are often tied to particular features of nature, such as tree species, grottos, rivers, light, and even the Underworld. And if any harm comes to them, then the harm will simultaneously affect the nature they are tied to and vice versa. They also help to serve Gods and Goddesses in their festivities, hunts, and general Godly duties.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very shy but friendly. Although if you were to harm one, then you'll most likely be cursed by one of the Greek Gods or Goddesses.
• Types of Tree and Forest Nymphs (the Dryads) include: the Hamadryads (Nymphs of specific Tree species), the Daphnaie (Nymphs of Laurel Trees), the Aegeirus (Nymphs of Black Poplar Trees), the Moreai (Nymphs of Mulberry Trees), the Balanis (Nymphs of Holly Trees), the Carya (Nymphs of Hazelnut Trees), the Balanus (Nymphs of Acorn Oak Trees), the Kraneiai (Nymphs of Cherry Trees), the Sykei (Nymphs of Fig Trees), the Ampelus (Nymphs of Vines), the Ptelea (Nymphs of Elm Trees), and the Meliads (Nymphs of Ash and Mountain Trees, and Honey Bees).
• Types of  Meadow Nymphs (the Leimoniads) include: the Epimelides (Nymphs of Pastures, Fruit Trees, and Protectors of Sheep), the Alseides (Nymphs of Groves), the Auloniades (Nymphs of Glens), the Napaea (Nymphs of Vales), and the Anthusae (Nymphs of Flowers), the Ionides (Nymphs of Violets), the Leiriope (Nymphs of Lilies), and the Rhodos (Nymphs of Roses).
• Types of Mountain Nymphs (the Oreiades) include: The Sphragitides (Nymphs of Mount Kithairon grotto), and the Pterides (Nymphs of Ferns). A famous Mountain Nymph would be Echo who was cursed by Hera (Queen of Mount Olympus/Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Childbirth) to only be able to repeat what others say, and she faded away into just an echo when she found that her love for Narcissus was unrequited.

Norse Mythology

The Draugar - earth-rising Zombies

• Appearance: Hideously deformed and decaying zombies that bring a foul stench wherever they go. They will often be living beneath the ground in the graves that were dug out for them.
• Abilities: The Draugar are often people who were horrible, selfish, and greedy before they died, and will often come back as zombie-like creatures to further torment the living, or if they are buried with treasure. They can increase their size at will, and possess immense strength. And they also like to feast on human flesh and blood.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Definitely run away from them!

Dwarves - Subterranean Craftsmen

• Appearance: Small and stumpy human-like creatures with long scraggly hair and beards that were often braided. They lived underground in mines and forges and would have blackened and calloused hands from working with fire and metal.
• Abilities: Masterful forgers and craftsmen who created the most elegant jewellery and powerful weapons, worn and wielded by the Norse Gods and Goddesses. This included Thor's (God of Thunder, War and Fertility) hammer Mjöllnir.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly enough, but can be hot-tempered.

Dökkálfar (Dark Elves) - Subterranean Creatures

• Appearance: Fearsome underground human-like creatures with obsidian-black skin, luminescent freckles, long dark hair and shadowy grey eyes.
• Abilities: As they reside within underground caves in the depths of the Earth, they are the complete opposite of the Ljósálfar (Light Elves). Due to this, they are nocturnal creatures with sensitive eyesight, but impeccable hearing. The Dökkálfar are able to manipulate darkness and shadows, and so are often attributed to nightmares. And they also live incredibly long lives, are immune to most illnesses and diseases, and can conjure dark magic to wield weapons from the darkness.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not too friendly, but probably best to leave them alone.

Huldra - Women of the Forest

• Appearance: Incredibly beautiful nymph-like women with bark covering their back, and the tail of a cow (they normally cast illusions so that the latter features are hidden).
• Abilities: Beware these alluring seductresses, as they will cast illusions to draw young unmarried men deep into the forest where they will keep them either as pets, lovers, or will suck their life force from them. This will trance them into a Stolkholm-Syndrome-like state where they will want to stay with their Huldra forevermore. The Huldra may also be spotted wandering the forest and, if you ask, she will help guide you with directions and advice (if you're not a young unmarried man, that is).
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Men should beware of their seductive illusions.

Trolls - Forest & Mountain Creatures

• Appearance: Large and grotesque humanoid beings with the mentality and brutish nature of a Neanderthal.
• Abilities: They will use the boulders and uproot trees to use as their weapons, and have immense strength when they do attack. So much so that they have been known to cause avalanches and mini earthquakes.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not friendly, very brutish.

Trolls - Cave & Cavern Creatures

• Appearance: Short and round gnome-like beings who often have frizzy and untamed hair.
• Abilities: If they were to accidentally get caught in the sun, they would turn to stone, which explains the boulders that are often seen across Norse landscapes.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Will often try to deceive and trick you, although they have been known to give favours for a favour.

Slavic Folklore

Leshy - Forest Protector

• Appearance: A very large humanish creature with bright green eyes, bluish pale skin and drooping green vines and shrubbery for hair. They have long branch-like limbs which makes it easy for them to camouflage themselves within their wooded forests.
• Abilities: A Leshy is a protector of forests and wildlife, and would often play tricks on lost travellers by giving them wrong directions or imitating different voices. However, if you were to befriend a Leshy, then they would share magical knowledge and secrets of nature with you.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: They're friendly enough, but you won't want to be around if there are two or more Leshys in the forest. They're territorial creatures, and it's said that fallen trees are the remnants of a Leshy who lost in battle.

Veela - Wilderness Fairies

• Appearance: Gracefully beautiful nymph-like Fairy maidens who can be found dancing under the moonlight with their long flowing hair and silk gowns twirling through the wind. This is said to be the cause of dark circular patches appearing in the grass in the morning, particularly around Cherry Trees. The Veela also have a ferocity to them that makes them perfect guardians of nature and brings justice to those who try to destroy it.
• Abilities: Myths say that Veela are the spirits of women, of all shapes/sizes/skin colour, who led purposeless or unproductive lives when they were human. In this life they are born again as immortal protectors of nature, with a mystical force that allows them to control the weather, communicate with animals, heal, shapeshift, and to top that off, they are also trained warriors with natural combative abilities.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly to those who respect nature.

German Folklore

Kobolds - Mine and Cave Fae

• Appearance: While they remain invisible, those who have caught a glimpse say that they are around the size of a small toddler, slightly hunched, and sometimes dressed in a red coat and hat with a brim.
• Abilities: Invisibility, shapeshifting (into animals such as cats, hens, snakes, inanimate objects, and fire).
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Can be mischievous and easily offended/temperamental, but they are generally friendly beings who offer household assistance, or assistance to those working in caves or mines.

Jewish Folklore

Golem - Mud Monster

• Appearance: A soulless humanoid mud/clay/dust monster that's given animated life through ritualistic magic. The ritual would require a word or symbol to be inscribed on its forehead, and if this is rubbed out, then the Golem will turn back into the lifeless earth it was before (alternatively it could be a piece of inscribed parchment inside the Golems mouth that brought it to life).
• Abilities: An obedient servant with a strong connection to its creator. Sometimes the Golem could take orders very literally, which would descend things into chaos.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Friendly, unless you give it orders that it takes too literally.

Celtic Folklore

Gnomes - Subterranean Fae/Earth Elemental

• Appearance: Often a tiny humpbacked old man who dwells underground in mines, wears monk-like robes, and embodies the element of Earth (Salamanders are Fire Elementals, Sylphs are Air Elementals, and Undines are Water Elementals).
• Abilities: They can move incredibly fast, and are protectors of treasures and gemstones found in mines underneath the earth.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: They're quite friendly, but don't try to steal their treasure!

Goblin - Mountain Fae

• Appearance: Evil, greedy, and grotesque creatures that are covered in hair, small in stature and malformed in individual ways. To be more blunt, they are ugly and malicious fairies.
• Abilities: Similar to Brownies, they can sometimes cause Poltergeist-like activity in households by turning invisible and knocking on walls and doors, pushing things off of shelves, causing your pets to hiss/bark/squawk at thin air, creating huge a mess, etc. Goblins can also shapeshift into creatures they most resemble, such as badgers, weasels, squirrels, etc.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not particularly friendly, they'll likely steal something you like.

Spriggan - Protectors of the Fae Realm and Treasure

• Appearance: Spriggans are large humanoid creatures with long limbs and tree branches/roots entwined with their anatomy. They are most often wise old men with large child-like heads and have quite horrid temperments.
• Abilities: These fae creatures are protectors of hidden treasures deep within woodlands and ruins of castles. They are also the guardians of the Realm of the Fae. They have the ability to command the woodland and its creatures when they attack, and if they get really volatile, they will increase their size and strength.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: You're a goner if you try to steal their hidden treasure.

Knockers (Wichtlein) - Mining Fae

• Appearance: Tiny old men with long grey beards, and are covered in blackened soot from living deep within caverns and mines.
• Abilities: They would often start knocking on the walls of mines to warn the humans of impending cave-ins or life-threatening gas leaks, hence their name, Knockers. It is thought that they may be the spirits of men who have previously died while working in the mines.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: They are very helpful and friendly but may play tricks on you if they're bored.

Medieval Folklore

Woodwose - Wild Forest Creature

• Appearance: This creature is basically the British Bigfoot. Big, tall and hairy apes, with brown/reddish fur, walking around on two feet and carrying a club. Their facial features are somewhat similar to an old bearded man, which is why Woodwose are also referred to as Wild Men.
• Abilities: The Woodwose would often fight off beastly creatures such as dragons, bears, wolves, and also sometimes evil spirits. They would also sometimes raid and steal from villages if they felt threatened by humans.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Not really friendly, best to just leave it be.

Australian Folklore

Yowie - Outback Creature

• Appearance: The Aboriginal version of Bigfoot - a giant furry ape creature that stands on two legs and has an aggressive temperament. Some differences are that it has long fangs protruding from its large red mouth, and taloned claws.
• Abilities: A nasty and vicious creature that will attack anything that gets too close.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Definitely dangerous if one spots you.

Hawaiian Mythology

The Green Lady of Wahiawa - vengeful Ghost

• Appearance: The Green Lady is definitely a cryptid straight out of a horror movie! Her skin is pale green and her long black hair is dripping with foul-smelling seaweed and algae.
• Abilities: Similar to the legend of La Llorona, the Green Lady is said to be a vengeful spirit who cannot rest because she lost her child while walking through a Gulch (a V-shaped valley leading to oceans or streams, that features Hawaiian forests and waterfalls). Her heartbreak is what ultimately killed her and traps her to this day, as she searches for and steals children to replace her own.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Children should definitely steer clear.

Caribbean Mythology

Baccoo - half-flesh/half-wood Minion Creatures

• Appearance: Little gnome-like demonic creatures that have wooden features merged into their anatomy.
• Abilities: They will often do anything you ask, as long as you keep them happy and do anything they ask in return. They are often associated as being the minions of evil humans, and live on a diet of milk and bananas (sounding a bit similar to Despicable Me...).
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Might not be friendly depending on who their master is.

Papua New Guinea Mythology

Matagaigai - Tree Spirit

• Appearance: Bulbous and ugly spirit creatures with swollen cheeks and bellies often seen near trees and swamps. The female Matagaigai has one very large breast & one very small breast.
• Abilities: They will often appear to people who are ill or sick. One touch from a Matagaigai would forbode certain death.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Don't let one touch you!

Brazilian Folklore

Mapinguari - Rainforest Creature

• Appearance: This creature closely resembles a prehistoric Giant Sloth and you can normally smell their foul odour before you see them. The Mapinquari have also been taglined as the 'Brazillian Bigfoot'.
• Abilities: They roam about the rainforests looking for meaty meals which, if you're unlucky enough to come across one, might be you! Their thick fur is said to be able to repel arrows and bullets due to how matted it is, which makes it very difficult to fight it off. Especially if you factor in its size, strength, and massive claws.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Definitely might end up being its snack.

North American Folklore

Bigfoot/Sasquatch - Forest Creature

• Appearance: As you may have picked up from reading through this list of creatures, there are quite a few different versions of Bigfoot varying from country to country - they should probably start their own society! Anyway, This is the OG Bigfoot that you will most commonly see in the media. A tall ape-like creature walking around on two feet, and covered head to toe in dark brown/rust-coloured fur.
• Abilities: This creature often scares away campers/hikers/etc. from wooded mountain areas, and legend says that this may be a warning to humans - either that there is danger, or that humans need to change their ways if they're being disrespectful to nature/wildlife.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Probably just wants to be left alone, but people keep trying to find him.

Arabic Mythology

Ghūl - Earth-bound Zombies

• Appearance: Ghūls are a type of Jinn/Spirit that inhabit deserts, graveyards and resting places of the dead. They will often take on the form of they person they have just eaten, or can appear as an animal such as a Hyena. Additionally, Ghūls are the offspring of Iblīs (Demonic entity similar to Lucifer in Christianity) and are therefore very deceiving and malicious in intent.
• Abilities: They are cannibalistic spirits who will lure away weary travellers or unsuspecting children so that they can eat them (although this may have been a tale told so that people would not go wandering off into the desert). If there are no humans taking the bait, Ghūls will instead go after dead ones and so can be found digging up corpses in graveyards. They can also shapeshift into animals, Hyenas in particular.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very evil and dangerous, so don't go wandering off into the desert alone.

Himalayan Folklore

Abominable Snowman/Yeti - Mountain Monster

• Appearance: An ape-like cryptid covered in thick white fur and grey skin, that camoflages them in their snowy mountain habitat. They have sharp pointed teeth and claws, and are often seen with a large rock which they will hurl around as a weapon.
• Abilities: This beastly creature is massive in size and possesses great strength.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Much like Bigfoot, he probably just wants to be left alone.

Burmese Folklore

Saba-Leippya - Butterfly Spirits/Guardians of Rice Fields

• Appearance: Theses are serene little spirits that appear as butterflies fluttering around rice fields and paddies.
• Abilities: As guardians of the rice crops, there is normally one hovering above each field and tending to the successful growth and eventual harvest.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very sweet and friendly fairies.

Indonesian Folklore

Orang Pendek - Jungle Creature

• Appearance: We've got another Bigfoot! This ape-like creature (which is notably shorter than other Bigfoot counterparts in different countries) roams about the Jungles of Sumatra, and is covered head-to-toe on short grey, black or honey-coloured fur.
• Abilities: They are incredibly strong, and will often raid villages and farming fields to steal food from humans.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Just wants to live its best jungle life.

Korean Folklore

Moksin Tongbop - wood imps

• Appearance: Mostly they are invisible creatures, but they can disguise themselves as wooden objects so that they can gain entry into your home (kind of like how a Vampire can't enter your home unless you invite them in).
• Abilities: These mischievous and unwanted creatures will slip in to your home and will cause you illness and misfortune, that may in some rare cases result in death, if you do things to anger or frustrate it such as rearranging your furniture or cutting down nearby trees for firewood.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Probably best to check your firewood before you bring it in to the house.

Japanese Folklore

Yamauba - Mountain Yōkai

• Appearance: Once they were human, but they were outcast from society to live in the wooded mountain areas, and eventually their despair and anger turned them into monsterous Yōkai. They appear as withered old women with wild hair and tattered clothes, and also take on a more hideous demonic form before they devour you.
• Abilities: Cannibalistic in nature, you should always be wary if a Yamauba offers to help you. She can also affect icy winter weather.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very dangerous, she will try to take care of you and then eat you, especially if you're a gullible child.

Chinese Mythology

Chi - Mountain Dragon

• Appearance: This utterly magnificent dragon has a fish-like appearance, long serpent body, sharp taloned claws, and is notably hornless.
• Abilities: Chi is the protector of Earth and Mountains and is able to fly, bring good luck, has mystical abilities, can change its size, and will fend off evil spirits. It is said that Tianlong (the Celestial Dragon) released Chi from the heavens and he became exhilerated by the lush greenery, water and mud of the Earth's surface. So much so that he rolled around in all the rich textures and scents and caused mountains, caverns, and hills to form.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Very friendly and loves the Earth.

Yeren - Forest Creature

• Appearance: And to finish off this list, guess what kind of creature this one is.... It's another Bigfoot! The Chinese Yemen is reportedly a Gibbon-like creature that is quite tall, has short reddish-brown fur that grows a bit longer around its face, and walks around like a hunched-over human.
• Abilities: They are non-violent creatures wanting to stay hidden in the depths of the Forest. So seeing one is quite a rare sight. Even rarer is the White Yeren which supposedly is either born with albinism, or is an older Yeren whose fur lost its pigment due to age.
• Friendly OR Dangerous?: Incredibly shy and evasive.

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Currently residing in West Sussex, Maddie is a 26 y/o blogger and illustrator with a passion for mythology, legends, fairytales & folklore. You'll regularly find her escaping into fantasy books, films, TV, and games.