About
This upright perennial features rounded, 5- to 7-lobed dark green foliage. In mid to late summer, it produces panicles of gray flowers, characterized by a cream-colored throat and pale violet spurs.
About the genus
Aconitum consists of herbaceous perennials or biennials characterized by lobed foliage and clusters of hooded flowers arranged in racemes or panicles.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- E Europe
- Toxicity
- TOXIC if eaten, avoid skin contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: TOXIC if eaten, avoid skin contact - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best grown in moisture retentive, fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade but will tolerate most soils, full sun and some shade. Staking (see staking perennials) may be necessary
- Pruning
- No pruning required except cutting back dead stems; use protective gloves
- Propagation
- Divide every third year in autumn or late winter to maintain vigour but sometimes plants are slow to re-establish. Use protective gloves when handling any part of the plant
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to crown rot, Verticillium wilt, bacterial spotting of the foliage and powdery mildews