This Is Gloucestershire has a nifty article about the herbs used in Harry Potter:
Magical herbs fit for boy wizard Harry Potter are being grown right here in Gloucestershire at The Selsley Herb Nursery near Stroud.
Mandrakes and Monkshood, Wolfbane and Wormwood may sound like they've come straight from the imagination of best-selling author J.K. Rowling but not all the herbs used by Harry and his friends at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are purely imaginary. And many can be found at the nursery in Bisley, although probably all their buyers are not interested in using the herbs for magical means, spells and potions.
Thanks to Darren, via TLC.
Producers of the Harry Potter films may have made the decision not to return to Gloucester Cathedral to film the next movie, but they could be sure to find the herbs they need at The Selsley Herb Nursery.
Herbs and plants which have made an appearance in the books and can be found at the nursery include, Mandrakes, Monkshood, Wolfbane, Wormwood, Knotgrass, Fluxweed, Dittany and Belladona.
Nursery owner, Rob Wimperis, said: "I think a lot of children don't actually realise how many plants mentioned in the Harry Potter books are real herbs and do have a powerful and dramatic effect on people.
"Sadly, here at the nursery, we've not been able to track down some of the more outrageous plants from the wizarding world.
"Shrivelfigs, Bubotubours, Devil's Snare, Gillyweed, Leaping Toadstools and the Venomous Tentecula have all defeated us!"
The eagerly awaited fifth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will hit the shelves on June 21 but apart from a few rumours of love and death, the plotline is one of the UK's best kept secrets.
But Harry Potter fans can be sure that as with the other books, herbs and potions will play a vital role in the story.
A key part of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the growing of Mandrakes for a potion to cure Hermione and the others of a petrification curse. Mandrakes are a real plant, which can be grown in England but which originates in Southern Europe.
Traditionally the root was supposed to have a human form but in reality it looks more like a large parsnip.
The leaves have been used in homeopathic medicine, but the root can irritate sensitive skin and should not eaten as it is wickedly purgative and emetic.
The nursery is now holding a magical plant competition to celebrate the new book, asking youngsters to draw a picture of a magical plant which they think could be useful at Hogwarts.
All they have to do is write a short description of the plant and how Professor Sprout or Snape might use it and send it along with their name, age, and phone number to the nursery.
Entries must be in by May 31 and the winner will receive a free magical garden of their own - a selection of the real plants available - and a free copy of the book.
Rob said: "A lot of children like Harry Potter but a lot of kids come here with their parents and look really bored looking at the plants.
"We wanted to make it more accessible, fun and interesting for them."
