Plant
of the Month
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August 2004
The
Climbing Aconites
by Dan Hinkley & Mary
Toomey
Aconites or monkshoods have had a long tradition in
cultivation. No perennial border in a garden could possibly
be complete without an aconitum or two. From late April
to late September the non-climbing and the not so very
well known or under appreciated climbing aconitums give
a good account of themselves, and rightly deserve to
be widely grown. However, every care should be taken
to keep curious children away from these plants. All
parts of aconites are poisonous - containing alkaloids,
the most potent being aconitine. Incidentally, the alkaloids
were found to be of medicinal importance when used in
very small quantities.
There are 100 or more species of aconitums and numerous
cultivars, and the following is an extract from Dan
Hinkley's invaluable book, The Explorer's Garden,
published by Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
"Aconitum hemsleyanum has been available
through specialist nurseries for some time, primarily
under the name A. volubile, and it is the most
commonly grown vining monkshood world-wide. I first
observed this species in the mountains of South Korea
in 1993. It was twining through small maples, lilacs,
and weigelas in full sun throughout most of the sites
that I explored on the vast Korean Peninsula. The stems
rose to 8ft. (2.4 m) or more in height, which is precisely
the size and vigour that it possesses growing in fully
exposed areas of my garden. Clusters of lavender hooded
flowers are produced in mid-August to mid-September,
complementing the golden foliage of selected forms of
Sambucus and Weigela. Aconitum hemsleyanum,
like other aconites, produce clumps of moderately sized
tubers that can be easily separated in spring to produce
new plants.
"Aconitum episcopale also grows in my garden
as a result of collection made in China during the Alpine
Garden Society's 1994 expedition to Yunnan and Sichuan
Provinces, and I observed this magnificent species there
myself in the autumn of 1996. The deeply and finely
lobed leaves, which grow to 6 in. (15 cm) across, are
carried along 10- to 20-ft. (3- to 6-m) long, vigorous
herbaceous stems that rake through the limbs of trees
and shrubs in bright situations with adequate moisture.
The large, late-summer flowers, to 1.5 in. (3.8 cm)
in length, are borne in axillary clusters of up to 10
flowers in rich violet tones, appearing nearly red when
back-lit by late-afternoon sun."
Cultivation and propagation of climbing Aconites
Full sun or partial shade in well-drained, gritty and
humus-rich, moist soil is ideal. The climbing species
of Aconitum will not tolerate summer dryness
for extended periods. Once established the growth is
vigorous and the vines will need robust support.
Propagation is easy by seed sown fresh in autumn or
by division of the tubers in early spring, once they
burst into growth.
Mary Toomey
Acknowledgement
Contributor
Dan Hinkley,
of Heronswood Nursery (Kingston, WA, USA)
fame, is a renowned plantsman, plant hunter,
teacher and gardener. His quest for distinctive
plants has led him on expeditions, hunting
plants from China, Korea, Nepal, Chile and
remote areas of his native North America.
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