Flower Specifications
- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 3 - 8
- Height: 36 - 48 inches
- Bloom Season: Mid summer to early fall
- Bloom Color: Dark violet-blue
- Environment: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 6.8
- Foliage Color: Blue-green
- Notes:: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 64 - 72F
- Average Germ Time: 14 - 28 days
- Light Required: No
- Depth: Cover seeds lightly
- Sowing Rate: 2 - 3 seeds per plant
- Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 24 - 30 inches
- Care & Maintenance: See: Monkshood
Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus) - Monkshood is a beautiful perennial flower with deeply cut foliage and loose spikes of violet-blue flowers. It prefers areas near streams or damp areas with rich humus soil and persistent moistness. Monkshood reaches a height of 36 - 48 inches, and it generally is sturdy enough to not need staking.
This beautiful flower is actually an herb that has been used for centuries. It is useful for the practitioner of homeopathic medicines. This herb can be found in the northeastern United States, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe. The origins of the herb are not known, but many people believe that it originated from Asia. Common names for Aconitum Napellus are Monkshood as the blooms resemble a hood or Wolfsbane as the plant was used to poison wolves. Aconitum Napellus, or Aconite, is poisonous especially the roots. Aconitum should never be grown with other herbs you intend to consume. After pruning the plant, thoroughly wash your hands.
Monkshood flower seeds can be directly sown outdoors in late fall or early winter for germination the following spring. If you want to start indoors for a spring planting, Monkshood flower seed 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 starter trays, and transplant seedlings into the garden when temperatures are warm.
