Herbology

"Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for."

- Harry Potter's description of the subject

Herbology is the study of magical and mundane plants and fungi, making it the wizarding equivalent to. Herbology is a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Castelobruxo in which students learn to care for and utilise plants, learn about their magical properties and what they are used for. Many plants provide ingredients for potions and medicine, while others have magical effects of their own right.

Herbert Beery was the professor of this subject at Hogwarts for many years prior 1955. After he retired, Pomona Sprout took over the post prior to 1991, and later Neville Longbottom by 2017.

Class information
Herbology is a mandatory class at Hogwarts for the first five years of a student's education. Students spend class time learning about the different varieties of magical plants that exist. The further into a student's education the more difficult and dangerous the plants become.



In the fifth year, when students take Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations, much of the year is spent working with a variety of more dangerous plants like the Fanged Geranium, as well as revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Herbology O.W.L, students must sit a written exam, and then complete a practical exam, during which the students work with a wide selection of plants.

Students who achieve a pass grade on their Herbology O.W.L. move on to the advanced class, where the plants become even more dangerous. At the end of their seventh year, students prepare for their N.E.W.T.s.

Pomona Sprout was the Herbology professor at Hogwarts in the 1990's; by 2017, however, she had either been replaced by, or was working alongside Neville Longbottom, who was likewise a professor. Neville was one of her students in the past, and a gifted herbologist.

Classrooms
These classes are held in the grounds of Hogwarts, in the greenhouses. The greenhouses are located behind the castle. Classes are held in different greenhouses depending on the students' year, with more advanced and dangerous plants typically reserved for O.W.L. or N.E.W.T.-level study.

First year
"...one of the Bouncing Bulbs wriggled free from Harry's grip and smacked him hard in the face."

- A first year lesson

Second year
"Those are Spiky Bushes. You may cast Incendio on them but step back to avoid their needles."

- Pomona Sprout

Sixth year
"...they were dealing with more dangerous plants than ever in Herbology, but at least they were still allowed to swear loudly if the Venomous Tentacula seized them unexpectedly from behind."

- N.E.W.T.-level lessons


 * Venomous Tentacula
 * Snargaluff pods
 * Whomping Willow

Known equipment

 * Dragon dung – used as fertiliser (Professor Sprout's fertiliser of preference).
 * Dragon dung compost – used for planting.
 * Dragon-hide gloves – worn when handling dangerous plants.
 * Earmuffs – worn by students and the professor when repotting Mandrakes, so they could not harm students with their sound.
 * Mooncalf dung – used as fertiliser, makes magical plants grow well.
 * Wand - to cast Herbology-related spells, such as Diffindo or Incendio.

Grades
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Passing grades

 * Outstanding [O]
 * Exceeds Expectations [E]
 * Acceptable [A]
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Fail grades

 * Poor [P]
 * Dreadful [D]
 * Troll [T]
 * }

Behind the scenes

 * As revealed in, J. K. Rowling had originally devised this class to be called "Herbalism".
 * Pottermore has a feature called "The highs, lows and health hazards of Herbology".

Appearances

 * PS undefined
 * PS F
 * PS G

Notes and references
Kräuterkunde de2:Kräuterkunde Herbología Botanique Erbologia Kruidenkunde Zielarstwo Травология Гербалогія 草药学