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I have tended to avoid Aconitum in the garden - I don't really like the idea of poisonous foliage
around the place because I know I will be hacking around in the undergrowth one day without remembering they are there.
I'm sure it takes quite a lot to actually poison yourself but it is a tiresome thing to have to worry about. On the other hand, I am seeing more and more spectacular plants in gardens around the place and when they are good they are really good and they seem to do well in the misty, damp conditions of Cornish gardens. I bought this as a seedling, one of a range of new species recently introduced from China. I planted it under a young Rhododendron, hoping that the climbing stems would scramble through the shrub and give a second season of interest in late summer much as it is said to do in Yunnan. So far, the Rhododendron has shed the climbing stems like water off a ducks back and these flowers have formed in a mat of collapsed stems at it's base, but perhaps next year the Aconitum will be stronger and more determined. Sadly it didn't make it to a second year but died in the winter. I bopught it from Longacre Plants, their catalogue says: "A lovely climbing Monkshood with bronze green leaves and twining stems and dark purple blue flowers in autumn." I think this entered cultivation as an introduction by Crug Farm Plants. Their catalogue entry says: Plant World Seeds say: "Aconitum austroyunnanense, commonly known as Yunnan Southern Monkshood or Climbing Monkshood, is a vigorous perennial climber native to Yunnan, China. Originally collected as seed from the Western Heights overlooking Kunming, Yunnan. It features twining stems that can reach up to 3 meters, adorned with deeply lobed, dark green leaves. In late summer to early autumn, it produces striking deep blue to purple helmet-shaped flowers, each approximately 5 cm long, arranged in generous axillary inflorescences. This plant adds vertical interest to gardens, making it ideal for trellises, arbors, or scrambling over rocks and shrubs. As with other members of the Aconitum genus, all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested; therefore, caution is advised when planting in areas accessible to children and pets." Writing in 'Gardens Illustrated' online, Melanie Domb says: "Aconitum austroyunnanense is a rampant but delicate climber that produces purple flowers in later summer and early autumn. It dies right back in the winter which keeps it controllable, but can reach a height of 3 metres." |
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| 27th March 2011 | ||
