Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous Perennial

Aconitum napellus

monk's hood

Upright, clump-forming perennial to 1.5m tall, with deeply divided, 5 to 7-lobed and toothed, dark green leaves, and tall, dense, spires of violet-blue, hooded flowers in mid and late summer

Other common names
Adam and Eve
bear's foot
see morecommon aconite
common monk's cowl
Cupid's cap
dumbledore's delight
Elijah's chariot
flapdock
friar's cap
garden monk's hood
garden wolf's bane
grandmother's nightcap
Helen flower
Helen's flower
helmet flower
monk's cap
monkshood
pops
soldier's cap
Turk's cap
Venus's chariot drawn by two doves
cwcwll y mynach
Synonyms
Aconitum ampliflorum
Aconitum napellus subsp. pyramidale
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Blue Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
TOXIC if eaten, avoid skin contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: TOXIC if eaten, avoid skin contact - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus

Aconitum can be herbaceous perennials or biennials with lobed leaves and racemes or panicles of showy, hooded flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Europe, Asia, America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in deep, cool, moisture-retentive soil in partial shade, but will also tolerate most soils and full sun if soil is humus-rich and protected with mulch to ensure that it is moist throughout the growing season; use protective gloves

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required except cutting back dead stems; use protective gloves

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

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

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.