It gets its common name from the modified petals' resemblance to the cowl on a monks habit.
There are about 250 species ofAconitum, butAconitum napellusis the most commonly grown ornamental variety.
When planted from seeds, it can take two years or more for plants to achieve flowering maturity.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
You should be quite careful, though, when handling monkshood and be sure to wear gloves.
It will struggle in dense soil or in hot conditions.
Wear gloves and long sleeves when working with monkshood.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Light
Monkshood can handle both full sun and partial shade.
If you notice the heads or stems of the flower drooping, it is probably receiving too much shade.
You may need to stake the plant.
Josie Elias / Getty Images
Soil
Monkshood will thrive in any jot down of moist soil that is well-drained.
Dense, poorly drained soils can cause root rot in these plants.
Water
A thirsty drinker, monkshood likes to be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Keep in mind, that the warmer the weather, the more shade the plant will need.
Fertilizer
Feeding always depends on the quality of your soil.
For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
confirm to wear gloves when handling the tubers, as the roots contain the greatest concentration of toxins.
The plants dont really like to be transplanted, so direct sow in the garden if possible.
They can be ephemeral during their first year, so dont panic if the young plants disappear.
And it is not uncommon for seedlings to take two years or so before they mature into flowering plants.
Crown rot, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt can affect monkshood.
Powdery mildew is usually not serious and can be avoided by ground-level watering rather than overhead spraying.
Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that causes stems to turn yellow and wither.
Affected plants will need to be removed and destroyed.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can make verticillium wilt more likely.
Failure to bloom sometimes occurs if the plants aren’t getting the ample moisture they crave.
Over-feeding with a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer may also stimulate excessive foliage development at the expense of flowers.
Plants begun from seeds may not bloom until their second, or even third year.
And it’s common for plants recently divided to experience reduced blooming in the following season.
After division, monkshood plants may languish for a while before regaining their former vigor.
These plants have sensitive, brittle roots, and they often resent transplanting.
But this peevishness is usually temporary, and within a year, the divided plants will come back strong.
Lifespans of 10 to 20 years and longer are common for monkshood.
And you should avoid any kind of skin contacteven when planting seeds.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Aconitum.North Carolina State Extension.
North Carolina State Extension.
Bird, Richard.The Propagation of Hardy Perennials.
Batsford Publishing, 1994.
Monkshood.University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture.
