Aconitum carmichaelii 'Barker's Variety'

Barker's Variety Monkshood

Family: Ranunculaceae
Height: 3-4 feet tall
Width: 1.5-2 feet wide
Flower color: Deep violet-blue, helmet-shaped blooms
Foliage color: Glossy deep green leaves
Bloom time: Late summer to early fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; cut back after flowering and wear gloves when handling (toxic)
Growing zone: USDA Zones 3-8
Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer-resistant

About this plant

Aconitum carmichaelii 'Barker's Variety' is a late-blooming perennial that produces dense spikes of deep violet-blue, hooded flowers. These unique, helmet-shaped blooms appear from late summer to early autumn, adding rich color and vertical interest to the garden when many other plants are beginning to fade. The deeply lobed, glossy green foliage creates a lush, textured backdrop that enhances the beauty of the flowers.

'Barker's Variety' is particularly valued for its robust blooms and ability to thrive in partially shaded areas, making it an excellent choice for borders or woodland gardens. Its vivid flowers and elegant structure provide a dramatic finish to the growing season, complementing other autumn-flowering plants and enhancing the overall landscape as summer transitions to fall.

Works well in

Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias

Design tip

Fall bloom is its strength, and it earns a place near a path or seating area used late in the year. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.

Where to see it

This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.