General Culture:

Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Soils must not be allowed to dry out, but need sufficient drainage to prevent wet conditions from developing. Best in full sun in cool summer climates. Appreciates some afternoon shade in the St. Louis area. Needs cool nights below 70 degrees F. to grow well, and, like the related delphiniums, will often struggle in hot St. Louis summers. Cut back stems after flowering to encourage an additional late season bloom. Although plants may be propagated by division, they are often slow to establish and are probably best left undisturbed once planted.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Native to central China, this species of monkshood is sometimes commonly called autumn flowering monkshood because of its late summer to early fall bloom. It blooms later than most other species of Aconitum. It is an erect, tuberous-rooted perennial that features dense panicles (to 8” long) of hooded flowers atop rigid, leafy stems typically growing 2-3’ tall. In optimum growing conditions, plants may grow 4-5’ tall. Species flowers are deep purple inside and paler blue outside. The upper sepal of each flower develops into a large, helmet-like structure that somewhat resembles the hood worn by medieval monks, hence the common names of monkshood and helmet flower. Leathery, dark green leaves are deeply divided into 3-5 lobes. All parts of the plant (especially the roots and seeds) are extremely poisonous. Arendsii group hybrids (A. carmichaelii x A. carmichaelii var. wilsonii) feature uniformly deep azure blue flowers. Species is sometimes sold as A. fischeri.