Eastern blue monkshood is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and is native to the Eastern United States. It is most often found in the mountains, occasionally in the Piedmont but not in coastal areas. It is listed as endangered in five states and as vulnerable in North Carolina. It is suitable for a variety of soil textures, including heavy clay, provided a moist environment is present. A dappled shade is ideal with the roots shaded from the mid-day sun. The thin flexible stems have a vining habit and will grow to 5 feet, tending to lean on or twine around any plants nearby for support. Propagation is from seeds and division. Wear gloves when handling this plant due to the toxic properties of the sap. Divide in the fall or winter once the leaves have died back. The violet-blue or lavender-blue hooded flowers appear in late summer to fall in small clusters at the tips of the stems. The leaves are 4-6 inches long and wide with 3-5 lobes and toothed margins. Use this plant in a woodland setting, a shade garden, in a shady border, in a naturalized area and along a stream or pond. Use with caution around pets. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Occasional disease problems include crown rot, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt. More information on Aconitum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The veined leaves are alternate, simple, palmately and 3 to 5 lobed. They are 4-6 inches long and wide.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Good Cut
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are blue-purple with the upper part hooded- or helmet-like. They have 1-in. deep purple or purplish blue flowers clustered at the end of stems that consist of five sepals and 2 petals. The upper sepal forms a rounded hood, concealing part of two claw-like petals. Flowers bloom from August to October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is dry and will split open when ripe. It displays from September to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Has a slender, weak branching stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern United States
Distribution
AL, DC, GA, IL, IN, KY ,MD, NC, NH, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
Wildlife value
Butterfly nectar source
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Edibility
Not edible
Uses (ethnobotany)
Has been used medicinally. A drug made from this plant has been used to treat neuralgia and sciatica.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Water Garden
Poisonous if ingested. May be fatal if eaten. Burning of lips and mouth, numbness of throat; intense vomiting and diarrhea, muscular weakness and spasms, weak pulse, paralysis of the respiratory system, convulsions; may be fatal. Poisonous to pets.