Re: ACONITUMS

Barb,
I bought several types of monkshood (A. napellus, A. henryi "Sparks", A.
cammarum 'Bicolor') 4 years ago and they've bloomed every year since, in
spite of rather than because of my gardening skills. They got about 6-7
hours of sun and were planted in heavy clay. I understand they do better in
the North than the South and prefer cooler damp conditions. They can take
full sun if there's sufficient moisture, but my books mostly recommend
partial shade and say they can even be grown under trees if steady moisture
is supplied. They also say that if the clumps are too old flowering is
diminished and recommend dividing them in the Fall. I reworked that bed last
year and dug them all up by just heaving them out of the ground with my fork
when they were at least a foot tall. They flopped almost immediately but
with some pruning and lots of water they revived and bloomed like always.
This year I got a new puppy and was worried that they would poison her, so I
tore them out again and put them in dappled shade under a Maple tree outside
of my fenced backyard. They're blooming halfheartedly there and slanting
toward the light, so I would recommend at least a few hours of direct sun.
It sounds like yours are getting enough sun, so constant moisture and a
mulch may be the key. You could try spading up a chunk this Fall and trying
it elsewhere first before moving all of them.

I love monkshoods. My only complaint is that after they bloom they don't
maintain their foliage very well. The Sparks variety gets over 6 feet tall
and has huge branching stalks of deep purple flowers. (PS for any new
monkshood gardeners-be sure to wash your hands after handling them).

Patty
zone 4, Golden Valley, MN

----------
>From: Barb Pernacciaro <bpern@idcnet.com>
>To: perennials@mallorn.com
>Subject: Re: ACONITUMS
>Date: Sun, Jul 25, 1999, 12:51 PM
>

> My aconitums never bloom either. I started with them as purchased plants and
have
> them in a half-sun position and rather crowded next to other perennials. I
> think the
> site is wrong, and I've read that they don't like being moved, so I'm not sure
what
> to do either. Any suggestions from successful Monkshood growers?
> --
> Barb P.
> SE Wisconsin, Zone 4
>
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