Many weird and wonderful things are used in the HP series to create a variety of different potions. Here we list all known potion ingredients, what potions they are used in and any other information!
A
- Abyssinian Shrivelfig
- State: Plant
- Used in: Shrinking Solution when skinned
- Additional Notes: Taught to second-year Herbology students for pruning.
- Reference: CoS p. 268
- Aconite
- State: Plant
- Used in: Likely in Wolfsbane Potion
- Additional Notes: Also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane. “Dumbledore’s Delight” is a folk term mentioned.
- Reference: SS p. 138
- Acromantula Venom
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Unspecified, but highly valuable
- Additional Notes: Costs about 100 Galleons per pint due to rarity.
- Reference: HBP, chapter 22
- Armadillo Bile
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
- Additional Notes: Harry spills this to eavesdrop on Karkaroff and Snape.
- Reference: GoF pp. 518-19
- Ashwinder Eggs
- State: Solid; Egg
- Used in: Love Potions
- Additional Notes: Cure for ague; can cause fires if not frozen.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, American Muggle Edition, p. 2
- Asphodel
- State: Root
- Used in: Draught of Living Death
- Additional Notes: Snape’s question to Harry about adding it to an infusion of Wormwood.
- Reference: SS pp. 137-38
B
- Bat Spleen
- State: Solid; Organ
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Seen for sale in Diagon Alley.
- Reference: PS, Chapter 6
- Beetle Eyes
- State: Solid; Organ
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Found at the bottom of Harry’s trunk; also seen in Diagon Alley.
- Reference: PS Chapter 6, DH chapter 2
- Bezoar
- State: Solid; Stone
- Used in: Antidotes to poison
- Additional Notes: Saves Ron’s life; Harry gains points for presenting it to Slughorn.
- Reference: SS pp. 137-138, HBP pp. 377, 378, 380, 398, 400, 403, 539
- Bicorn Horn
- State: Solid; Horn
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Hermione steals it from Snape’s private store.
- Reference: CoS, Chapter 11
- Billywig Stings
- State: Solid
- Used in: Fizzing Whisbees
- Additional Notes: Rumored ingredient in the sweet.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Boomslang Skin
- State: Solid; Skin
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Stolen by Hermione and Barty Crouch Jr. from Snape.
- Reference: CoS, Chapter 10; GoF p. 516
- Bubotuber Pus
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Acne potions
- Additional Notes: Abrasive; discovered by Sacharissa Tugwood.
- Reference: GoF pp. 194-95, 541; HBP p. 84
- Bundimun Secretion
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Cleaning products
- Additional Notes: Highly acidic; used diluted.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, American Muggle Edition, p. 6
C
- Caterpillar
- State: Solid; Insect
- Used in: Shrinking Solution
- Additional Notes: None
- Reference: PoA p. 125
- Cockroaches
- State: Solid; Insect
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Thrown at Harry by Snape.
- Reference: OotP, Chapter 28
- Crocodile Heart
- State: Solid; Organ
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Ron deducted points for throwing it at Malfoy.
- Reference: PoA, chapter 10
D
- Daisy Root
- State: Plant
- Used in: Shrinking Solution
- Additional Notes: Ron swaps his with Malfoy’s after sabotaging his own.
- Reference: PoA pg. 124
- Dittany
- State: Plant
- Used in: Healing Potions
- Additional Notes: Used by Hermione for Splinching and on Harry after Nagini’s attack.
- Reference: SS p. 229; HBP p. 523
- Doxy Eggs
- State: Solid; Egg
- Used in: Doxycide
- Additional Notes: Poisonous; used in Weasley’s experiments.
- Reference: OotP, Chapter 6
- Dragon’s Blood
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Unspecified (12 uses)
- Additional Notes: Dumbledore’s fame for discovering uses; varies by dragon breed.
- Reference: HBP Chapter 4, DH Chapter 2
E
- Eels Eyes
- State: Solid; Organ
- Used in: Spattergoit cure
- Additional Notes: Seen in Diagon Alley; Ron’s Spattergoit “cure” mentioned.
- Reference: PS Chapter 5; OotP Chapter 22
- Erumpent Horn
- State: Solid; Horn
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Pierces any material; Xenophilius Lovegood’s mistaken purchase.
- Reference: DH, Chapter 20; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Erumpent Horn Exploding Fluid
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Highly explosive; Class B Tradeable Material.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Erumpent Tail
- State: Solid; Tail
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Class B Tradable Material.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
F
- Flobberworm Mucus
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Potion thickener
- Additional Notes: None
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fluxweed
- State: Plant
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Must be picked at full moon; available to students.
- Reference: CoS; pp. 165-166
G
- Ginger Root
- State: Plant
- Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
- Additional Notes: Used by fourth years at Hogwarts.
- Reference: GoF pp. 516-518
- Glumbumble Treacle
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Antidote for Alihotsy-induced hysteria
- Additional Notes: Produced by the Glumbumble.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Graphorn Horn
- State: Solid; Horn
- Used in: Unspecified (common in potions)
- Additional Notes: Difficult to collect, hence expensive.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Griffin Claw
- State: Solid; Claw
- Used in: Strengthening Solution
- Additional Notes: Harry’s essay mistake due to lack of concentration.
- Reference: OotP, Chapter 22
H
- Horned Slugs
- State: Insect
- Used in: Boil-Cure Potion
- Additional Notes: Malfoy praised for stewing them perfectly.
- Reference: PS, Chapter 8
- Horned Toads
- State: Lizard
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Neville tasked with disemboweling after a Potions mishap.
- Reference: GoF, Chapter 14
J
- Jobberknoll Feathers
- State: Feather
- Used in: Memory and Truth Potions
- Additional Notes: Jobberknoll’s perfect memory makes its feathers ideal for these potions.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
K
- Knotgrass
- State: Plant
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Available from Hogwarts’ student store cupboard.
- Reference: CoS pp. 165 & 184
L
- Lacewing Flies
- State: Insect wings
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Must be stewed for 21 days; available to students.
- Reference: CoS pp. 165-66, 184, and 211
- Leech Juice
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Shrinking Solution
- Additional Notes: Should be used sparingly in potions.
- Reference: PoA, Chapter 7
- Leeches
- State: Solid; Slug
- Used in: Polyjuice Potion
- Additional Notes: Available from the student store cupboard at Hogwarts.
- Reference: CoS pg.165 & 184
- Lionfish Spine
- State: Solid; Fish bone
- Used in: Various unspecified potions
- Additional Notes: Part of the standard potion-making kit for Hogwarts students.
- Reference: GoF, Chapter 10
- Lovage
- State: Herb
- Used in: Befuddlement Draught & Confusing Concoction
- Additional Notes: Induces reckless behavior when used in potions.
- Reference: OotP pg 383
M
- Mandrake Juice
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Restorative antidotes
- Additional Notes: Derived from the Mandrake plant; used to cure those petrified by a Basilisk.
- Reference: CoS pp. 91-94,144, 285, and 288
- Monkshood
- Moonstone
- State: Stone
- Used in: Draught of Peace
- Additional Notes: Must be powdered for the potion; subject of an essay following potion-making class.
- Reference: OotP, Chapters 12, 13 & 15
N
- Nettles
- State: Plant
- Used in: Boil Cure Potion
- Additional Notes: Commonly found around Hogwarts; can be used for tea as well.
- Reference: PS, Chapter 8
P
- Peppermint
- State: Herb
- Used in: Elixir to Induce Euphoria
- Additional Notes: Optional ingredient to counteract side effects of singing and nose-tweaking.
- Reference: HBP 22
- Pomegranate Juice
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Unspecified potions
- Additional Notes: Almost mistakenly added to a potion by Harry; stopped by Hermione.
- Reference: OotP pg 363
- Porcupine Quills
- State: Solid; Animal quills
- Used in: Boil Cure Potion
- Additional Notes: Neville forgot to add these to his potion, turning it acidic.
- Reference: PS, Chapter 8
- Puffer-fish Eyes
- State: Solid; Fish organ
- Used in: Swelling Solution
- Additional Notes: Malfoy flicked these at Harry and Ron during a potions class.
- Reference: CoS, Chapter 11
R
- Rat Spleen
- State: Solid; Rat organ
- Used in: Shrinking Solution
- Additional Notes: Only one spleen is needed per cauldron of potion.
- Reference: PoA, Chapter 7
- Rat Tails
- State: Solid; Rat organ
- Used in: Hair Raising Potion
- Additional Notes: Subject of an essay Snape assigns to his second-year students.
- Reference: CoS, Chapter 13
- Runespoor Eggs
- State: Solid; Egg
- Used in: Potions for mental agility
- Additional Notes: Extremely valuable; a favorite food of the Bowtruckle.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
S
- Salamander Blood
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Strengthening Solution
- Additional Notes: Known for restorative and curative properties.
- Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Scarab Beetles
- State: Insect
- Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
- Additional Notes: Considered sacred in ancient Egypt.
- Reference: GoF Chapter 27
- Scurvy-Grass
- State: Herb
- Used in: Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts
- Additional Notes: Induces hot-headedness and reckless behavior.
- Reference: OotP pg 383
- Snake Fangs
- State: Solid; Snake organ
- Used in: Boil Cure Potion
- Additional Notes: Must be crushed before use.
- Reference: PS Chapter 8
- Snake Venom
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Voldemort’s Potion
- Additional Notes: Used by Voldemort for his rebirth; Nagini’s venom is particularly potent.
- Reference: GoF Chapter 33, DH Chapter 6
- Sneezewort
- State: Herb
- Used in: Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts
- Additional Notes: Causes hot-headedness and reckless behavior.
- Reference: OotP Chapter 18
- Sopophorous Bean
- State: Bean
- Used in: Draught of Living Death
- Additional Notes: Harry follows Half-Blood Prince’s advice for a successful potion.
- Reference: HBP Chapter 9
- Syrup of Hellebore
- State: Liquid
- Used in: Draught of Peace
- Additional Notes: Harry forgets to add this to his potion, resulting in a vanished cauldron content.
- Reference: OotP, pg 234
T
- Tubeworms
- State: Worm
- Used in: Unspecified
- Additional Notes: Harry has to scrape these off the desk during detention with Snape.
- Reference: CoS, Chapter 9
U
- Unicorn Horn
- State: Solid; Animal horn
- Used in: Unspecified potions
- Additional Notes: Included in first-year students’ potion kits.
- Reference: PS, chapter 15
V
- Valerian Roots
- State: Plant Root
- Used in: Draught of Living Death
- Additional Notes: Harry uses these following the Half-Blood Prince’s potion notes.
- Reference: HBP Chapter 9
W
- Wolfsbane
- Wormwood
- State: Plant
- Used in: Draught of Living Death
- Additional Notes: Used in both wizarding and Muggle medicine.
- Reference: PS, Chapter 8