NOTEWORTHY PERENNIALS 41 



Aconitum — Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Helmet 

 Flower 



Under trees, in woodlands and even in semi-wild gardens, the 

 Aconitums, when once established, enhance the statehness and grandeur 

 of a place as only a plant with tall spikes of cool blue flowers can. The 

 flowers themselves are showy, shaped like a helmet or hood, from which 

 the common name Monkshood is derived. The leaves are large and 

 lustrous green, forming a dense mat, which throws long, compact stalks 

 of white, blue, violet-blue, white and Hlac and yeUow flowers. They 

 grow from 3 feet to 6 feet tall and bloom from June or July until 

 November. 



Species. The coimnon Monkshood {Aconitum Napellus) has large, 

 dark blue flowers and grows 5 feet to 6 feet high. A variety of this one 

 has white flowers with flesh-colored edges and another has decided pink 

 markings on it. A. N. bicolor has white and blue flowers. Wolfsbane 

 (A. Lycodonum) blooms in June and July, is 4 feet high and has soft 

 yellow flowers. A. Wilsonii blooms in September with spikes of pale 

 blue flowers growing 6 feet taU. A. Fischeri is the last one to bloom. 

 It is only 3 feet taU, has pale blue flowers and blooms in October. 



Uses. The Monkshoods are planted among shrubbery and in 

 borders, especiaUy in combination with Madonna Lihes, white Phlox 

 and Shasta Daisies. Most of the varieties are valuable to fill in vacant 

 spaces in the garden when the earlier blooming plants have past. 

 They are excellent for naturahzing in a woods. Since the roots are 

 poisonous, one should be careful to avoid planting them near a vege- 

 table garden where they might be mistaken for another plant, or where 

 children could get to them. The efl'ect of the glossy leaves is very 

 striking, especiaUy of A. Fischeri. If undisturbed in the woods, they 

 wiU naturalize themselves very easily. Aconitums should always be 

 planted in masses. 



Culture. Aconitums grow in almost any good garden soil, either 

 in sun or partial shade. When the ground is being prepared for plant- 

 ing, one should dig deeply and use plenty of well-decayed cow manure. 

 Good culture and hberal feeding add greatly. 



Propagation. It is a rather slow process to raise them from 

 seed since it takes twenty days for the seed to germinate. However, 

 they are easily propagated by division of the roots. They grow best 

 when left undisturbed for years. 



