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Wolf's Bane Aconitum uncinatum

Phonetic Spelling
a-kon-EYE-tum un-sin-AH-tum
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

A member of the buttercup family, monkshood is native to the eastern US.  It is listed as endangered in five states.  It is suitable for a variety of soil textures, including heavy clay, provided a moist environment is present.  Dappled shade is ideal. 

The growth habit may inhibit the health of surrounding plants. Resembling a vine, it will send several arching stems upwards that will use surrounding plants for support.  These slender stems can reach lengths of up to 5 feet.

It can be found in the wild in low woods and damp slopes, thickets, wet areas along streams and in springs. It does best when roots are shaded from the mid-day sun.

Although it can be propagated from seed, using caution in handling, the preferred method is by division.  Division should be accomplished in the fall after the leaves have died back. The seed may be slow to germinate.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Occasional disease problems include crown rot, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt.  All parts of this plant contain poisonous alkaloids, caution should be used when handling.

 

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#poisonous#fall flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#blue flowers#slopes#fall interest#rabbit resistant#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#thickets#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#poisonous#fall flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#blue flowers#slopes#fall interest#rabbit resistant#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#thickets#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Aconitum
    Species:
    uncinatum
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Native Plant
    Distribution:
    AL, DC, GA, IL, IN, KY ,MD, NC, NH, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterfly nectar source
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Not edible
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is dry and will split open when ripe. It displays from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are white or blue-purple with the upper part hood- or helmit-like. They have 1-in. deep purple or purplish blue flowers clustered at the end of stems; five sepals; upper sepal forms a rounded hood, concealing part of two claw-like petals. Flowers bloom from August to October.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The veined leaves are alternate, simple, palmately and 3 to 5 (though sometimes up to 9) lobed. They are up to 6-inches. They are similar to buttercup.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Has a slender, weak branching stem.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Poisonous if ingested. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Burning of lips and mouth, numbness of throat; intense vomiting and diarrhea, muscular weakness and spasms, weak pulse, paralysis of the respiratory system, convulsions; may be fatal
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alkaloids aconitine and others
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems