Snargaluff

• Type: Magical Plant, Carnivorous Plant
• Distinguishing Features: Deceptively appears as a gnarled stump; attacks with thorny, whip-like vines when provoked; produces valuable, pulsating pods.
• Handling: Requires protective gear such as dragon-hide gloves, goggles, and earmuffs.
• Use: The contents of its pods are a valuable Potions ingredient.

A Snargaluff is a dangerous magical plant that appears to be nothing more than a gnarled, inanimate stump. This appearance is deceptive, as the plant is highly aggressive. When disturbed, it lashes out, shooting long, thorny vines that whip through the air to attack whatever is nearby. The primary goal when handling a Snargaluff in Herbology is to collect its valuable pods. The pods are described as green, pulsating, and “unpleasantly squishy.” They are notoriously difficult to harvest and open due to the plant's violent nature and the pods' own resilience. Standard methods like stabbing them with a trowel are ineffective; a pod once ricocheted off a greenhouse ceiling and knocked Professor Pomona Sprout unconscious. The Severing Charm (Diffindo) has been shown to be effective in detaching the pods from the plant's vines. Inside the pods are “pale green, pulsating, and tuberous objects the size of radishes,” which are the valuable component used in Potions.

The Snargaluff is encountered during Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

• Herbology Class: Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger study and handle Snargaluffs in Professor Sprout's Herbology class. They are tasked with collecting the valuable pods while wearing protective gear. During the lesson, Neville Longbottom is repeatedly attacked by his plant's vines. Harry successfully uses Diffindo to collect several pods.
• Slughorn's Interest: Later in the year, Professor Horace Slughorn mentions that Snargaluff pods are “immensely valuable” and that he is on his way to procure some from Professor Sprout. This conversation occurs just before Harry gives Slughorn a Bezoar to “save” Ron's life from poisoned mead, which leads Slughorn to reward Harry with a vial of Felix Felicis. Slughorn's interest confirms the pods' significant value as a Potions ingredient.

The name “Snargaluff” is likely a portmanteau. “Snarl” evokes the image of tangled, aggressive vines and the plant's hostile nature. The suffix “-luff” could be a nonsense syllable chosen for its clumsy, grumpy sound, fitting the plant's stump-like appearance and difficult temperament.

• Snargaluffs are featured in the video game LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, where they must be defeated by the player. (video game)
• The plant also appears in the mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery as part of the Herbology curriculum. (video game)