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Poisonous plant

Hi there

I have a plant in my garden which flowers in September.  I always thought it was a delphinium, but recently a friend told emit was in fact an "aconite".  I has lovely purple flowers and long dark green spiky leaves. Since I have two young dogs in the garden I am now concerned that they might be poisoned by this plant.  Could you give me some advice about this.  If it is poisonous, what is the best way to dispose of it?

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  • Monkshood is its common name. Look that up to confirm. Don't go eating it, but apart from that, just take care handling it when gardening.  It's not attractive to animals to chew on and there are many other mildliy poisonous plants which are much more 'edible'! Your decision, really, but read upon it.

    H-C

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    aconitum is possible. A photo would confirm.

    If you don't want it dig it up and put it in the compost bin. It's poisonous if you eat it. It doesn't search you out and attack. There are many poisonous plants in gardens. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • I should have said, wear gloves when handling it. 

    H-C

  • Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663

    If it has long green spiky leaves that doesn't fit with either Delphinium or Aconitum. Possibly an Acanthus? You do need to upload a photo.

  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254

    I don't think Aconitums flower in September. In my garden I have an Aconitum septentrionale 'Ivorine' which flowers (white) May-July and a more common Aconitum napellus (Monkshood) which flowers July-August.

    Please upload a photo of your plant so we can ascertain what species it actually is.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I certainly think of A. napellus as an autumn flower - it's certainly in bloom at The Old Vicarage in East Ruston in September, although it may well have been blooming for several months by then.  

    Sarah Raven's website has it flowering from June to the end of September

     https://www.sarahraven.com/flowers/plants/perennials_spring_summer_planting/aconitum_napellus.htm 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    I have a blue Aconitum in flower just now. . . an autumnal one.

    My others flower spring/summer.

    SW Scotland
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254

    @Joyce21 "I have a blue Aconitum in flower just now. . . an autumnal one."

    Would that be Aconitum carmichaelii (Arendsii Group) 'Arendsii'? Do you have a photo?

    @Verdun,

    Looked it up on the Web, that 'Stainless Steel' seems to have an unusual colour. Photo, please.image

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