Aconitum napellus

Aconitum napellus, also known as Monkshood or Wolf's-bane, is a montane perennial with a fleshy root that is in no way inferior to its counterparts. This European and Asian species, with its wild beauty, produces in summer its tall airy spikes, adorned with flowers of a satin indigo blue, in the shape of a helmet. It bears large, round and glossy leaves, highly divided, on rather woody stems. This privileged host of cool and fertile soils is a reliable and floriferous shade-loving plant, perfect for occupying the back of perennial borders.

Widely spread in hilly or mountainous zones throughout Europe but also in regions of temperate Asia, Monkshood is an herbaceous perennial of the buttercup family, like its cousin Delphinium. This plant grows from a fleshy tuberous root, from which emerges in spring an upright tuft formed by slightly hairy stems, adorned with tough and almost spherical leaves, deeply palmatisect, with an almost fringed appearance. They are deeply veined, a very dark green colour, with a glossy surface. In July-August, long spikes measuring 40cm (16in) blossom at the end of the stems, adorned with helmet-shaped flowers wider than they are tall, of a very deep indigo blue, whose substance admirably reflects the light. The flowering plant measures at least 1.20m (4ft) in height, and 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) in width. The napellus species is the most toxic of all, and one of the deadliest plants in our flora if the roots are ingested.

Monkshoods suffer from a bad reputation due to their legendary toxicity, which is regrettable because they have their place in every garden. They are robust, very hardy, and their foliage is among the most beautiful among perennial plants. Not to mention the blue of their flowering, an incredible blue comparable to that of Gentians or delphiniums. They are perfect at the back of borders, in the company of foxgloves and baneberries, for enchanting shaded summer scenes. They can be planted among bushes, sheltered from the wind that sometimes bends their stems, in the company of Japanese anemones that will take over their flowering. They are also very beautiful in front of the purple foliage of Physocarpus or Cotinus 'Royal Purple'. They are good perennials, like foxgloves, for light and cool woodlands. Finally, their flowers are magnificent in bouquets.