Aconitum lycoctonum 'Darkeyes'

RHS Plant Profile
wolf's bane 'Darkeyes'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Aconitum lycoctonum 'Darkeyes'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
wolf's bane 'Darkeyes' RHS

Other common names

wolf's bane 'Dark Eyes'

Synonyms

Aconitum vulparia 'Darkeyes'
Aconitum lycoctonum 'Dark Eyes'

Herbaceous Perennial

A clump-forming perennial about 75-90cm tall, with very dark green, 5 to 7-lobed leaves, and dark stems bearing panicles of primrose-yellow hooded flowers, with distinctive black stamens, flowering from early to late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
TOXIC if eatenavoid skin contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: TOXIC if eatenavoid skin contact - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Aconitum can be herbaceous perennials or biennials with lobed leaves and racemes or panicles of showy, hooded flowers
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in deep, cool, moisture-retentive soil in partial shade, but will also tolerate most soils and full sun if soil is humus-rich and protected with mulch to ensure that it is moist throughout the growing season; use protective gloves

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or late winter; division every few years may encourage good flowering stems, though plants may be slow to re-establish; use protective gloves

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required except cutting back dead stems; use protective gloves

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal stem rot, powdery mildews, and Verticillium wilt