Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus)
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Monkshood is a tall plant that blooms late in the summer and handles partial shade very well. It gets its common name of monkshood because of its resemblance to the cowl on some monk’s habits. There are about 250 species of aconite, but Aconitum napellus is the most commonly grown ornamental variety.
Scientific Name: Aconitum Napellus
Also Known As: Wolfsbane, Aconitum, Helmet Flower.
Native Range: Western and central Europe
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): July to August
Light: Full sun to part shade. The plants can handle both full sun and partial shade, however they prefer somewhat moist soil. If you are growing them in a hot, dry area, definitely give them a spot with some shade, especially in the afternoon. When grown in shade, you will probably need to stake the plants.
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Containers: Containers are an excellent choice for this variety.
Maintenance: Medium
Height: 36-48"
Spacing: 24-30”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 3-8
Produces: Beautiful perennial flower with deeply cut foliage and loose spikes of dark violet-blue flowers.
Garden Uses: Best grown in moist woodland areas, along streams or ponds, or on the periphery of bog or water gardens. Will grow in borders as long as the soil moisture requirements can be met. Because of the poisonous properties of the plant, it probably should not be grown in areas where small children might come in contact with it or in areas contiguous to vegetable gardens where tubers are growing.
Warning: All members of the genus Aconitum, monkshood included, are poisonous. In fact, wolfsbane, its other common name, came about from using the ground root of perennial monkshood in meaty bait to kill the once hated animals. It should never be grown within reach of children or pets and all parts of the plant are toxic, including the sap, so appreciate its beauty in the garden and not as a cut flower. To prevent absorption through the skin, wear gloves when you are gardening around monkshood. In the case of the monkshood plant, beauty comes with a price. Please be careful.
Also Known As: Wolfsbane, Aconitum, Helmet Flower.
Native Range: Western and central Europe
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): July to August
Light: Full sun to part shade. The plants can handle both full sun and partial shade, however they prefer somewhat moist soil. If you are growing them in a hot, dry area, definitely give them a spot with some shade, especially in the afternoon. When grown in shade, you will probably need to stake the plants.
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Containers: Containers are an excellent choice for this variety.
Maintenance: Medium
Height: 36-48"
Spacing: 24-30”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 3-8
Produces: Beautiful perennial flower with deeply cut foliage and loose spikes of dark violet-blue flowers.
Garden Uses: Best grown in moist woodland areas, along streams or ponds, or on the periphery of bog or water gardens. Will grow in borders as long as the soil moisture requirements can be met. Because of the poisonous properties of the plant, it probably should not be grown in areas where small children might come in contact with it or in areas contiguous to vegetable gardens where tubers are growing.
Warning: All members of the genus Aconitum, monkshood included, are poisonous. In fact, wolfsbane, its other common name, came about from using the ground root of perennial monkshood in meaty bait to kill the once hated animals. It should never be grown within reach of children or pets and all parts of the plant are toxic, including the sap, so appreciate its beauty in the garden and not as a cut flower. To prevent absorption through the skin, wear gloves when you are gardening around monkshood. In the case of the monkshood plant, beauty comes with a price. Please be careful.
If you want to start indoors for a spring planting, Aconite seeds needs a cold treatment. Place flower seeds in water or moistened soil and freeze for three weeks. After the cold treatment, sow the Monkshood flower seeds in soil blocks. Keep seeds moist until germination occurs which should be in 14-28 days.
Monkshood prefers sun, but can tolerate some shade and grows well where the summer is not too hot. The hotter the summer, the more shade it needs, but beware; the more shady the area, the more likely your monkshood plant will need staking. Try a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade for best results. Sow two to three seeds per plant 1/8" deep in average and moist, but well drained soil 24-30" apart. If the soil is too rich, the plants will become leggy and if it holds too much water, the fragile roots will drown.
Water: Once established, monkshood is able to withstand short periods of drought, but for robust plants, provide a moist soil or water regularly.
Fertilizer: Feeding always depends on the quality of your soil. Definitely start with a rich soil, high in organic matter. Side dress with compost and some organic fertilizer each spring.
Maintenance: Monkshood are very low maintenance plants. Since these are late season bloomers and they do not repeat bloom, you won’t really need to deadhead.
The plants will die back to the ground at frost. I don’t cut mine back until spring.
Fertilizer: Feeding always depends on the quality of your soil. Definitely start with a rich soil, high in organic matter. Side dress with compost and some organic fertilizer each spring.
Maintenance: Monkshood are very low maintenance plants. Since these are late season bloomers and they do not repeat bloom, you won’t really need to deadhead.
The plants will die back to the ground at frost. I don’t cut mine back until spring.
Some reports suggest the root is edible if cooked, but these should be treated with extreme caution due to the highly toxic nature of the plant.
Aconite has been used since ancient times, especially as an antidote to poisoning. Since the entire plant is itself very toxic, however, any use should be under the guidance of a skilled practitioner. All parts of the plant are used medicinally. The root is the most important and this is harvested as soon as the plant dies down in the autumn and is dried before use. The other parts of the plant are less important and are used fresh, being harvested when the plant is coming into flower. The root is analgesic, anodyne, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, irritant and sedative. Due to its poisonous nature, it is not normally used internally though it has been used in the treatment of fevers. Externally, it is applied to unbroken skin in the treatment of rheumatism, painful bruises, neuralgia etc. All parts of the plant, except the root, are harvested when the plant is in flower and used to make a homeopathic medicine. This is analgesic and sedative and is used especially in the treatment of fevers, inflammation, bronchitis, neuralgia etc.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
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