38 



HORTICULTUBE 



January 10, 1914 



MONKSHOODS AND THEIR VALUE FOR THE GARDEN 



Aconitums have long occupied a pennanent place as 

 tenants of our ancestors' gardens. By virtue of their 

 ornamental ity and their hardiness they claim equal con- 

 sideration for the present and future. Associated with 

 the yellow shades of helianthus and rudbeckias, the 

 whites of Pyrethrum uliginosum, Shasta daisies, white, 

 varieties of Japanese anemones, the panicles of Artem- 

 isia lactiflora. Spiraea aruncus or white hardy phloxes 

 their bright blue and deep purple spikes add to the 

 beauty of August, September and October effects of our 

 herbaceous plantations. Clumps of tall robust growing 

 aconitums are extremely handsome when mixed into the 

 shrub border. Here they contrast well with the white 

 trusses of Hydrangea arborescens as well as Hydrangea 

 paniculata grandiflora. 



Most of the popular species of monkshoods belong to 

 the tuberous rooted section. Their dark carrot-like roots 

 are deadly poisonous and for this reason should be kept 

 out of kitchen gardens. Best known is Aconitum napel- 

 lus, dark purple, and A. napellus bicolor, blue and white. 

 The latter is the best variety for cutting. The white of 

 A. napellus album so far is lacking in purity. Aconitum 

 napellus praecox produces long loosely built panicles of 

 bright dark blue which appear during June and July. 

 The darkest of all the blue monkshoods is Sparks' variety 

 with stems 5 to 6 feet tall, flowering during July and 

 August. The best yellow flowering sort is Aconitum 

 Lycoctonum bearing dense spikes of a pale but clear tint. 

 Aconitum Stroekianum, a tall growing type doing beau- 

 tifully in New England states, is distinguished by dense- 

 ly set flowers of a rich deep blue. Of the late-flowering 

 monkshoods well adapted for the Middle Atlantic States 

 I mention Aconitum Fisheri, 1^ to 2 feet high, pale blue ; 

 Aconitum autumnale, deep bright blue and, last but not 

 least, the strong growing light violet blue introduction 

 from northern China, Aconitum Wilsoni. 



Monkshoods thrive well in a rather light loam, richly 

 manured. For the middle Atlantic and Central districts 

 a half-shady position is a necessity, while for the North 

 the open sunny exposure I deem more advisable. The 

 result of transplanting is a lower growth the following 

 season. For full development plantations should be left 

 undisturbed for a number of years. To attain the 

 stately height of from 6 to 8 feet requires a well estab- 

 lished root system. The species of the genus Aconitum 

 are numerous. There is a wide difference between the 

 tall erect habit of A. exaltum and the climbing vines of 

 A. Hemsleyanum. Many representatives are only of 

 interest to the botanists and collectors. Others resem- 



AcoxiTfM Stroekianum 



ble each other very closely. The selection offered by the 

 trade is a hardy plant material which, if skillfully em- 

 ployed and properly cared for, will prove invaluable for 

 those of us aiming for both richness and beauty in floral 

 garden effects. As mentioned in previous notes Aco- 

 nitums merit more recognition and increased space in 

 American gardens. 



Riverlon, N. J. 



SbjeA/:vui. -i^cMyU 



Cover Illustration 



Our cover illustration this week is a view in the rhodo- 

 dendron dell in Highland Park, Eochester, N. Y. The 

 Eochester Park Commission has just been awarded the 

 George Eobert White Medal of Honor in recognition of 

 its successfid efforts in establishing one of the most im- 

 portant collections of trees in America, in increasing love 

 of plants and hortculture among the people of Eochester, 

 and in exploring the flora of western New York and of 

 adjacent regions, as announced in our last week's issue. 

 The picture was intended to accompany that announce- 

 ment but was not ready in time. 



