These herbaceous perennial plants are chiefly native to the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia; growing in the moisture-retentive but well-draining soilsof mountain meadows.
An ideal soil would be made up of 45% minerals (sand, clay, silt), 5 % organic (plant and animal) material, 25% air and 25% water. The mineral portion would be loam (20 – 30% clay, 30 – 50% silt and 30 – 50% sand).
Cut back to the ground in autumn. Should be divided every four years or so to maintain vigor. It is also important to stake the plant, as it may suffer from the effects of adverse weather.
The neurotoxins, aconitine and mesaconitine can be absorbed through the skin and cause severe respiratory and cardiac problems. Luckily cases of fatal monkshood poisoning are rare as it tastes foul and bitter and would quickly be spat out.
