Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Ranunculaceae Family
Buy Arend's Azure Monkshood
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
Dense spires of rich azure-blue, hooded flowers from September into October — one of the last perennials to bloom each fall. Needs consistently moist, rich soil and part shade to sun. All parts are highly toxic; handle with gloves.
'Arendsii' is a classic selection of Chinese monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii), hybridized by the German nurseryman Georg Arends in 1945. It has held the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit and remains one of the most widely grown monkshood cultivars, valued for extending the fall garden with dense, upright spires of rich azure-blue, hood-shaped flowers from September well into October — later than almost any other perennial.
Plants form an upright clump of deeply lobed, leathery dark green foliage on sturdy stems that rarely need staking. Best in consistently moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun (in cooler climates) to part shade; soil should never be allowed to dry out. 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
Late-season blue flowers (September into October) when few other perennials are still blooming
Tall, upright spires that rarely need staking
Attractive, deeply lobed dark green foliage all season
Deer-resistant and a good late-season nectar source for pollinators
Cons
All parts are highly toxic if ingested or absorbed through skin — wear gloves, keep away from children, pets, and edible gardens
Occasional crown rot, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt
Resents disturbance; slow to recover from division
Highlights
A classic, RHS Award of Garden Merit-winning monkshood prized for its dense spires of azure-blue flowers from September into October, later-blooming than almost any other perennial — but highly toxic in all parts, so handle with care.
Plant Data
Mature Size
24 - 48 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; happiest near a pond or stream edge or in a moist border. Good drainage still matters — avoid soil that stays waterlogged or stagnant.
Zones
3a - 7b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Formal Garden, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Medium, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
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!
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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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