Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus)

Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus) is a perennial plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus).

This plant has several common names including: monk’s hood, monkshood, Adam and Eve, bear’s foot, common aconite, common monk’s cowl, Cupid’s cap, dumbledore’s delight, Elijah’s chariot, flapdock, grandmother’s nightcap, friar’s cap, garden monk’s hood, garden wolf’s bane, Helen flower, Helen’s flower, helmet flower, monk’s cap, pops, soldier’s cap, Turk’s cap or Venus’s chariot drawn by two doves.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: monk’s hood, monkshood, Adam and Eve, bear’s foot, common aconite, common monk’s cowl, Cupid’s cap, dumbledore’s delight, Elijah’s chariot, flapdock, grandmother’s nightcap, friar’s cap, garden monk’s hood, garden wolf’s bane, Helen flower, Helen’s flower, helmet flower, monk’s cap, pops, soldier’s cap, Turk’s cap, Venus’s chariot drawn by two doves
Scientific name: Aconitum napellus
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Partial shade
Soil: Clay, Loam
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Poorly drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding

Seasonal colors

How to plant Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus) – Daniel Barthelemy, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, via Wikimedia Commons

Perennial plants are one of the largest groups of plants.

They offer color, shape, fragrance and seasonal textures. The variety is such that there are plants to suit all sizes and styles of garden.

Traditionally, perennials are grown in borders, using a wall or hedge as a backdrop to bring out all their splendor during summer.

But since most gardens are not large enough for long borders dedicated exclusively to perennials, they are usually planted in mixed borders and beds, along with shrubs, annuals, biennials, and bulbs that extend the season of interest.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus) is a plant that prefers to grow in clay or loam.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Aconitum napellus likes to grow in moist but well drained or humid or poorly drained soils.

Sunlight

Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus) should be grown in partial shade places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Monk’s hood (Aconitum napellus) – Florent Beck, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, via Wikimedia Commons