Friar's-Cap
1 entry found.
Friar's-Cap
Common Name: Monkshood, Monk's-Hood, Helmet Flower, Friar's-Cap
Botanical Name: Aconitum napellus (ak-o-NI-tum na-PEL-lus)
Decorative Life: 7-10 days.
Post Harvest Care:
- Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution.
- Poisonous, precautions should be taken around children and pets.
Harvest Instructions: Tuberous roots can be stored under modified or controlled (low oxygen) atmospheres for months at higher temperatures than is stored in air.
Family Roots:
- Member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family.
- Native of China.
- Related species include delphinium, columbine, anemone and peony.
Personality:
- Flowers helmet-shaped, in tall spikes.
- Plant is a herbaceous perennial.
- Good vertical accent, dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
- No flower fragrance.
Availability: Nearly year-round.
Flower Color: Dark blue, light blue, white, cream.
Storage Specifics: Believed to be sensitive to low temperatures just above 32F (chill sensitive). Store closer to 40F.
Tidbits:
- Gets its name from the hood-like enlarged sepal that occurs on each flower. One of the best blue colored flowers.
- Another common name for this species is wolfsbane because its poisonous roots were used as bait to kill wolves.
- The poison contained in all plant parts is aconite, which has been used as a heart sedative.
- Commonly grown in gardens and landscapes. Flowers can also be dried.
- Harvest when first flowers start to open.