A Gullah bottle tree is a traditional yard display made by placing colorful glass bottles—most often rich cobalt blue—onto the branches of a tree or a metal frame to capture and destroy evil spirits.

African Roots: The custom traces back centuries to West Central Africa, particularly the Kingdom of Kongo, and was brought to the American South by enslaved Africans.
Catching "Haints": According to Gullah Geechee folklore, wandering or malicious spirits—known as "haints," "hags," or "bo haggas"—roam at night. Attracted by the brilliant color and beauty of the glass, these spirits are lured into the bottles and trapped inside.
Destruction by Sunlight: When the wind blows across the openings of the bottles, a humming or whistling sound can sometimes be heard, which tradition says is a trapped spirit trying to escape. When the morning sun rises, its light destroys or neutralizes the captured evil.
The Power of Blue: Blue is a deeply spiritual color in Gullah culture associated with protection and warding off harm.
Modern Tradition: Today, bottle trees remain an important symbol of resilience, heritage, and artistry across the Lowcountry, and can even be seen in public displays.