Aconitum napellus - Monkshood

The Aconitum napellus or Monkshood. A perennial plant, it grows to a height of 80 cm with a spread of 0.5 m.

The root is tuberous, fleshy and spindle shaped when young, aquiring a dark brown skin with age; the stem is erect and simple; the leaves are dark green, glossy and deeply palmately divided into 5 or 7 lobes, each further divided into linear, deeply serrate segments; the flowers are dark blue, with a conspicuous helmet-like hood,and occur in long, erect racemes in summer; the fruit are follicles containing winged seeds. Indigenous to the Himalayan foothills, it prefers moist, loamy soils in a protected, shaded position, and is frost resistant but drought tender. Propagation is by root division or by seed.

Jul - Okt	Mar - May	80 cm	8 - 10 cm	5 - 15 cm