Monkshood

Upright stems of exquisite, hooded flowers for average soils

Monkshood forms a stately backdrop in the perennial garden, with tall flowering spires and glossy, palmate leaves. Dense clusters of deep purple-blue flowers appear in late summer and prefer to be planted in average soils, as generous nutrients can make them leggy. The common name refers to the shape of the individual flowers, said to resemble the hoods worn by medieval monks.