Ranunculaceae; native to China.

Germination: Sow outdoors in late fall or early winter, covering the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil. Indoors, place the seeds in water or moistened medium and freeze for 3 weeks before sowing. Maintain a temperature of 55-60° F during germination, which takes about 30 days.

Growth: Space seedlings 12-18 inches apart in full sun to partial shade (preferred for best bloom color) in cool, rich moist soil with added organics. Plants may require staking, especially if grown in the shade. Keep the soil moist in full sun to avoid stunting. Plants may increase, and they resent transplanting.

Appearance and Use: Excellent for cutting, use Monkshood in borders, as background planting, in rock gardens, or in naturalized areas. These perennials, growing 3-4 feet tall and spreading 1-2 feet wide, display hooded, 1-2 inch blooms of blue, purple, yellow, or white. Glossy, dark green foliage, 3-5 inches long, is deeply cut, lobed and veined.

Species:

A. carmichaelii — Blooms in September to October. Zones 3-7.

A. napellus — Blooms from midsummer to frost. Zones 5-8.

Warning: All parts of the plants are poisonous.