Here it is, the penultimate flower to bloom here. I like this Aconitum because it blooms so late, adding a dark blue-purple to the Autumn garden. I got it at a local garden club sale, but the lady who sold it to me didn't know which species of Aconitum it was.
It stands tall and fairly straight in the main woodland garden, but leans horribly in the raised bed by the house. (I should pair it with Anemone 'Party Dress' for a drunken plant effect.)
It also has a problem of stem die-back. I cut out the dead stems, and there are usually enough healthy stems left.
I think it is worth growing anyway for the beauty of the flower.
But the best thing about Monkshood is that it is very poisonous. Feel lucky, rabbit, do you? Go ahead, make my day.
It stands tall and fairly straight in the main woodland garden, but leans horribly in the raised bed by the house. (I should pair it with Anemone 'Party Dress' for a drunken plant effect.)
It also has a problem of stem die-back. I cut out the dead stems, and there are usually enough healthy stems left.
I think it is worth growing anyway for the beauty of the flower.
10 comments:
That is a nice closeup shot of the Monkshood! I like it and poisonous or not, it is going to stay! Thanks for showing yours!
Lovely shade of purple. I have a monkshood blooming now too. I purchased mine from an avid gardener who sells plants from her private garden. I don't think she knew the cultivar name either. I don't. :-(
Although I like the flowers of this plant I'm not growing it because it's so very poisonous, every part of it. I love my cats and don't want to lose them. Rabbits are no problem over here, I'm happy to say. ;-)
Layanee - thanks. What kind of Monkshood do you have?
Dirty Knees - maybe we have the same kind of Monkshood. If I ever figure it out, I'll let you know.
Yolanda Elizabet - Lucky you, no rabbits! I can't imagine how nice it must be to garden where you don't have to worry about deer and rabbits devouring everything. So, what does eat your plants? Only slugs and snails?
Interesting that your monkshood is blooming now; mine are all finished. I have Stainless Steel, a species that is deep purple or blue and white variegated, the 'red' one (which is really tepid salmon) and the yellow one, but they're all done and gone to seed. Lovely photo. I've never had a problem with the felines trying the plants, either--cats seem to be smarter than dogs that way and don't chew on things that might be toxic. Here's hoping the rabbit, however, is tempted.
Jodi - is 'Stainless Steel' the disease-resistent Monkshood? I'm thinking of adding an earlier blooming 1 to add more blue to the summer garden, although the yellow is also attractive. I'll take a pass on the red, though.
Very nice closeup photo of the monkshood flowers. I've always admired the monkshood flowers in catalogs but have not tried it in our garden. We do need a few more blooming plants at this time of the year so I may try them though I'm not fond of plants that need staking. Our 'Party Dress' Anemone was a little disappointing because of the weak stems too. I do like the shape of the flower which resembles 'Whirlwind' and the light pink shade is a better color imo than the darker 'Prince Henry'. Oh well, I only have one plant so I guess staking it isn't much trouble.
ki - this Monkshood doesn't need staking if grown in full sun. The plants that need staking are next to the east side of the house & get shade from the afternoon on.
LOL re: "Go ahead rabbit, make my day!"
I wish I could grow that. I believe it was Craig at Ellis Hollow who commented that the key is leaving it alone, though... and I know myself better than to think I could actually do that. :)
Blackswamp Girl - so that's why I can grow it! The goddess Inertia is a strong force in my garden.
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