Monkshood
Perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Aconitum species
Ornamental herbaceous perennials of tall stature
native to Europe, temperate Asia and North America.
The roots and foliage of certain species yield
drugs valued for medicinal purposes; all are reputed
to be poisonous.
For herbaceous borders certain species only are
important.
Aconitum napellus is the best known; the blue flowers
are borne in racemes and have the upper sepal
formed into a hood or helmet.
Rather similar are Aconitum x cammarum with dark purple
flowers, and Aconitum x cammarum bicolor with white
and purple flowers.
Aconitum vulparis is three to six feet high, has yellow
flowers with a longer narrower head;
Aconitum carmichaelii wilsonii attains a height of five
feet, bearing racemes of rich blue hooded flowers.
At the back of herbaceous borders the Aconitums
are effective.
They are easily cultivated in any moderately rich,
well-drained garden soil.
Propagation is by seeds sown as soon as ripe or
by division in early autumn or spring.
Flowering is June and July for Aconitum napellus, June
to September for Aconitum vulparis, August for Aconitum x
cammarum, and September for Aconitum carmichaelii wilsonii.
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