Aconitums should be planted in full sun but will tolerate afternoon shade. They also tolerate moist soils but should not be planted in swampy conditions. Best planted in fall. Does not transplant well once established, but tuberous roots can be used for propagation by carefully separating them from their mother plants and transplanting them in the fall.

Aconitum, or monkshood, received its common name from the appearance of its flowers which have enlarged, hood-shaped sepals that hide the rest of their floral parts. According to Armitage, roots of this plant “were used as poison bait for wolves, thus accounting for another popular common name, wolfsbane. All aconitums have poisonous roots, leaves, and stems; warnings concerning their poisonous properties have been sounded since the late 1500’s.”

The fleshy, tuberous roots are especially toxic and due to their appearance, should not be planted near tuberous food crops such as potatoes, horseradish, or Jerusalem artichokes.  With that said, Aconitum is a superb garden plant of stately beauty.