Monkshood
Zones: 4 to 9
Height: 48″
Spread: 15″ to 18″
Bloom Time: Late summer / fall
Monkshood is an old world perennial that has been planted in gardens for hundreds of a years.
It looks something like a delphinium with its blue flowers and cut leaf foliage. But this variety (Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’) has one major difference. It loves the shade!
Because of its height, it’s a staple in the back of shady cottage garden borders.
Although it is beautiful, there is one thing to be aware of: All parts of this plant are very toxic. So if you have pets or kids that could try to eat it, you will want to avoid planting it in your garden. And it’s a good idea to wear gloves while you’re handling it to prevent skin irritation.
On the positive side, being poisonous does make it very deer and rabbit resistant.
This post was originally published on June 28, 2020 but was updated with new content on June 18, 2022.