Wolf's Bane Aconitum uncinatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-kon-EYE-tum un-sin-AH-tum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Has a slender, weak branching stem.
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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
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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
