Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire'

Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire' (monkshood) is a tall, upright herbaceous perennial prized for its elegant spires of hooded blue flowers held above handsome, deeply divided green foliage. Best grown in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade (it will also grow in sun if the soil does not dry out), it makes a striking addition to mixed borders and woodland-style plantings, adding vertical interest late in the season. Fully hardy and reliable in Irish gardens, plants typically reach about 1.2m tall and 0.6m wide. Flowers are valuable to bees and other pollinators. All parts are highly toxic if ingested; avoid skin contact with sap and wear gloves when handling.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or partial shade

Rate of Growth: Average

Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained; do not allow to dry out

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Plant at a Glance