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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Aconitum uncinatum

Southern Blue Monkshood, Eastern Blue Monkshood, Appalachian Blue Monkshood

Scientific Name:

Aconitum uncinatum

Genus:

Aconitum

Species Epithet:

uncinatum

Common Name:

Southern Blue Monkshood, Eastern Blue Monkshood, Appalachian Blue Monkshood

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

1-3 ft., 3-6 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Blue

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

August, September

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont

Habitat Description:

Seepages, cove forests, other moist forests. Aug-Oct. C. MD and sw. PA south to e. VA, e. NC, wc. GA, and c. TN; disjunct in sc. MO (Yatskievych 2013).

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S3: Vulnerable, S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G4 - Apparently Secure (*Key)

State Status:

W6: Watch List: Regionally Rare (*Key)

Notes:

Uncommon in mountains and piedmont, rare on the coast. Nectar source for butterflies.

It grows wild in at least 15 eastern states, and is considered threatened or endangered in five. Of the 19 North Carolina counties where you might spot this poisonous beauty, 13 are in WNC.

Blue Monkshood habitat

Blue Monkshood grows in cove forests, rich woods and seepages. Here it grows with Rhododendron by a mountain stream.

image

Paynter, 2011

Flowers

image

Flower, front view

image

Foliage

image

Seed pod

image

Notice long flexuous stems arising above other vegetation

Wayah Bald, Macon Co, NC

The Scientific Name is Aconitum uncinatum. You will likely hear them called Southern Blue Monkshood, Eastern Blue Monkshood, Appalachian Blue Monkshood. This picture shows the Notice long flexuous stems arising above other vegetation of Aconitum uncinatum

Larry Mellichamp

Aconitum uncinatum with bee

Garden in Mecklenburg Co, NC

The Scientific Name is Aconitum uncinatum. You will likely hear them called Southern Blue Monkshood, Eastern Blue Monkshood, Appalachian Blue Monkshood. This picture shows the Aconitum uncinatum with bee of Aconitum uncinatum

Larry Mellichamp

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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