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.

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

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