Aconitum napellus Aconite (Ranunculaceae)

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Aconitum napellus
Aconite
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The Aconitum napellus plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Aconite.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Aconitum napellus
Common Name:  Aconite
Family:  Ranunculaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The whole plant is highly toxic, acting especially on the nerve centres. At first it stimulatesthe central and peripheral nervous system and then paralyzes it. Other symptoms of poisoning include a burning sensation on the tongue, vomitting, tomach pain and diarrhoea. Simple skin contact with the plant has caused numbness in some people[4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 19, 65, 76, 244]. The root contains 90% more poison than the leaves[232].

Mature Height:  1.5   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  Damp shady places and moist rich meadows in southern Wales and southwestern England[7, 13, 31, 165, 176]. It is usually found in calcareous soils[9].

Cultivation Notes: Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Plants only thrive in a sunny position if the soil remains moist throughout the growing season[238]. Prefers a calcareous soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 7.5. Plants take 2 - 3 years to flower when grown from seed[244]. Grows well in open woodlands[1, 4]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[244]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer[233]. Although the plant is a perennial, individual roots only live for one year and die after flowering. Each root produces a number of 'daughter' roots before it dies and these can be used for propagating the plant[4]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes[54]. An aggregate species which is divided by some botanists into many species[17, 76].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

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