Aconitum, Azure Monkshood, Fischer's Monkshood 'Barker's Variety'

Whoever reported this plant as 2 to 3 feet and spacing 6 inches either has a different variety or has the wrong location (too much sun) o...Read Morer too dry of conditions. In that case, the plants become stunted and spindly. But this plant in partial to full bright shade and good moist---not wet---- soil will grow at least 5 feet tall and bush out to at least 18 inches per plant. To get a nice full effect in the garden and to avoid mildew issues, it needs to be spaced at least 18 inches. Mine were spaced 2 feet each and filled the space nicely without crowding and had dark green foliage with many blooms. Very robust. I don't worry about the grandkids with this plant because it stands in the background with many plants/small shrubs in front of it. It will survive some drought but your plant will be very unimpressive in the garden and tend to fall over easily----even with NO wind or rain. I do stake mine just in case and have been happy in retrospect that I did. This is a beautiful plant when mixed with a variety of pinks (love the hot pink with it) and foliage textures. There are other named varieties that bloom earlier in the summer and a newer one (to me) that if distinctly an autumn bloomer----in some areas into December! My soil is loamy with a very gritty base about a foot down.

I planted three plants last Spring and all had beautiful big blooms in the Fall, long after all my other blue perennials were done. The ...Read Moreblooms were large and looked good, if memory serves me, for at least three weeks. The plants didn't require staking, although I may this year anyway as a precaution.