Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family
Buy Royal Flush Wolfsbane
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
Deep purple-blue flower spikes on red-flushed stems from September into October, above foliage that emerges bronze-red and matures to glossy green. A compact, patented monkshood — all parts are highly toxic; handle with gloves.
'Royal Flush' (also sold as 'Redleaf') is a patented (US Plant Patent PP16,102) selection of Chinese monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii), discovered by British plantsman Bob Brown in 1996 in Evesham, England, from a cross between an unnamed A. carmichaelii selection and the cultivar 'Barker's Variety.' It was patented in 2005.
The cultivar is named for its striking red-flushed stems and young foliage, which emerges bronze-red in spring before maturing to a glossy, deep green; leaves are deeply divided and palmate, typical of the species. From late summer into fall, upright spikes of dark blue-purple, hooded flowers appear on a more compact, restrained plant than many monkshoods. Like all Aconitum, it prefers consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested and can irritate or be absorbed through skin — wear gloves when handling, and keep it away from children, pets, and edible gardens.
Pros
Ornamental red-flushed stems and bronze-red spring foliage, in addition to fall flowers
Compact habit compared to many monkshood cultivars — good fit for smaller gardens
Late-season dark blue-purple flowers when little else is still blooming
Deer-resistant and attractive to late-season pollinators
Cons
All parts are highly toxic if ingested or absorbed through skin — wear gloves, keep away from children, pets, and edible gardens
Slow to establish, taking 2 to 5 years to reach full size
Highlights
A compact, patented monkshood prized for red-flushed stems, bronze-red spring foliage, and spikes of dark blue-purple flowers from late summer into fall — but highly toxic in all parts, so handle with care.
Plant Data
Mature Size
24 - 36 inches
tall. 12 - 18 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Slow
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium - Wet: Needs consistently moist soil and does not tolerate drought; tolerates damp conditions well. Good drainage still matters — avoid soil that stays waterlogged or stagnant.
Zones
3a - 8b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Deciduous, Full Sun, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Wet
Bloom Period
September to October
Flower Color
Dark Blue-Purple
Foliage Color
Bronze-Red
Commonly Planted with...
Astilbe, Ligularia, Rodgersia, ferns, and other moisture-loving perennials that share its preference for consistently moist, rich soil.
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!
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