Scientific Name: Aconitum napellus
Common Name: monkshood
Family Name: Ranunculaceae
Origin: Central / west Asia, Europe, North America
Hardiness Zone: Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.3 - 0.6m (height x width)
Habit: Stiffly upright
Form: Oval - vertical
Texture: Fine
Landscape Uses: Cut flower or foliage, Perennial border, Summer interest, Woodland margin
Exposure: Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil or Media: Humus rich, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Lobed, Dissected, Alternate, Soft flexible, Glabrous, Odd-pinnate, Orbicular, Incised, Lacerate, Palmately lobed
Flowers: Raceme, Blue, Violet, Jun-Jul
Fruit: Follicle, Brown, Oct-Nov
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, orbicular, most blades 7-10cm wide, deeply divided into 5-7 main lobes which are also incised to form smaller linear lobes; racemes 10-20cm long, florets "monk-hooded" (a modified sepal), deep purplish-blue to violet (some white or variegated), Jun-Jul.