Anatomy

• The leaves of aconitum are dark green and glossy while the flowers are a bright blue purple in color. The flowers, which bloom during July and August, are shaped like small helmets and therefore given the nickname monkshood. The flowers are of a long-lasting nature and live for several weeks each. The plant will grow to be about 2 to 4 feet.
  
  

Care

• Aconitum prefers areas where there is a lot of shade. The plant itself should be trimmed back early in the season so that it has the opportunity to grow strong before it begins to yield blooms. While the plant itself is quite sturdy, it may require staking in order to get to its maximum height. While deadheading (removing dead flowers by pinching them off at the stem) can result in another set of flowers, this is not always the case.
  
  

History

• Aconitum received the nickname wolfsbane because of its tendency to poison wolves. It has been used around the world for different purposes due to its deadly nature. Aconitum was used to make poison arrows in Asia and as an anesthetic in modern Western medicine. In more recent culture, wolfsbane is used in the Harry Potter novels to protect people from werewolves.
  
  

Uses

• Aconitums are a beautiful addition to a flower garden and, because they bloom later in the summer, are well-served when placed near shade-loving flowers that bloom earlier in the season. Their vibrant hue adds color to a section of the garden that would otherwise have been devoid of color during the later part of the summer.
  
  

Warning

• Because the roots of the aconitum contain a poisonous alkaloid that is potentially deadly, every part of the plant is dangerous if ingested. No portion of the plant should be added to a compost pile or left around for animals to possibly nibble at because it could cause death if eaten.