Overview

Aconitum spicatum is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Aconitum, part of the Ranunculaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Aconitum spicatum grows best in partial shade, and tolerates clay and loam soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, wildlife gardens and architectural.

About

This species-clustering was corroborated by a perMANOVA that detected a significant difference between the two Aconitum species (F 1,16 = 6.107, p <0.001). The separation between the two Aconitum species was further investigated by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) (Fig. 3 B), a supervised method that explains maximum separation among defined classes of samples. The 5 most influential candidates for each species were tentatively identified as known alkaloids by matching the obtained molecular formulae with the DNP database (Table 3). All of them but one have been reported in the Aconitum and / or Delphinium genera (Ranunculaceae family). It is native to Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta and other regions. In the garden it prefers partial shade and clay and loam soil. In UK gardens it is fully hardy throughout the UK (RHS H7). Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, wildlife gardens and architectural. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained, well-drained conditions and north-facing, west-facing and east-facing aspects.

GBIF contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikipedia

About the genus

Aconitum, also known as aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, devil's helmet, or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. These herbaceous, frequently toxic perennial plants are chiefly native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, growing in the moisture-retentive but well-draining soils of mountain meadows.

Wikipedia contributors, "Aconitum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Aconitum

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Aconitum

Sunlight

Partial shade

Soil type

Clay, Loam

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

North-facing, West-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Aconitum spicatum size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, Architectural

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Aconitum spicatum

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or late winter to maintain vigour but plants may be slow to re-establish. Use protective gloves when handling any part of the plant

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to aphids

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to fungal stem rot, powdery mildews, and Verticillium wilt

Frequently asked questions