Aconite planting and care in the open field in siberia

Aconite or wrestler is a spectacular tall perennial that can decorate any flower garden. The article describes aconite, planting and caring for it in the open field. We will consider the main features of growing a crop, as well as the rules for its application in landscape design. The text is illustrated with vivid photos of various varieties of aconite.

Description: varieties and varieties of aconite

Aconite (the second name is "wrestler") is a spectacular tall plant that instantly attracts attention in a flower garden in the open ground with the unusual shapes of its inflorescences: a warrior's helmet is guessed in their outlines. It is believed that the flower itself symbolizes cold, poison and crime.

Attention! Aconite is a poisonous plant. Fresh tubers give off a horseradish smell and look like celery. Eating them in food is extremely dangerous: three or four pieces are enough for severe poisoning of the body.

The height of aconite stems reaches 50-150 cm, as a rule, they are straight, but there are varieties with winding or curly stems up to 400 cm. The flowering period of aconite is the entire summer and autumn season until October. The inflorescences of the most common wrestler varieties are colored in various shades of purple and blue, but there are types of pink, pure white, bright yellow and even purple shades.

Blue aconite

Aconite (wrestler) grows almost throughout Europe, Asia, North America, is found in forests, on the shores of lakes, rivers, near swamps. There are several dozen varieties and varieties of aconite, the name of many of them is directly related to the area: there is a Baikal wrestler, a Karakol wrestler, an Altai wrestler.

Experienced landscape designers and gardeners recommend the hood wrestler for growing in the open field (the shape of the flower resembles a monk's hood - hood). Plant height is about a meter, inflorescences are blue and purple tones, flowering period lasts at least 4-5 weeks.

Nape wrestler

There are several subspecies of nodule aconite:

• nodule wrestler compact - blooms in late June - first half of July, inflorescences are pale lilac or grayish-white, height 90 cm - 1 m;
• lobelium wrestler - flowering period - July, petals of deep blue or bluish-blue shades;
• aconite Glaceraise - inflorescences of a white tone;
• pyramidal nodule aconite - reaches 1.5 m, the inflorescences are rather large, of a rich violet-blue hue, blooms in the second half of summer;
• Aconite nodule Tavrika is a low-growing variety of Aconite (up to 60 cm high), flower baskets can be violet-blue, violet-blue with a white center.

Aconite Tavrika

Aconite two-color looks spectacular in flower beds - inflorescences of a white tone with a wide violet-blue edging. Also, aconite motley blue-nosed is quite popular - the height of the plant is about 2 meters, the inflorescences are large, blue or white with a blue edge or snow-white. This type of aconite blooms for about 3 months: from mid-summer to mid-autumn.

Planting a plant

Aconite is a rather unpretentious plant to care for; any cultivated soil, except for sandy and stony soil, is perfect for planting and growing it in the open field. Also, the wrestler does not like damp, oversaturated soils. In autumn, with prolonged rains, good drainage of the area under the aconite should be ensured, since waterlogging of the flower adversely affects its root and leaf systems, leading to the death of the plant.

The main conditions for plant health are moderate watering and well-drained soil.

Aconite (wrestler) tolerates shade and partial shade well, so it is a suitable candidate for planting under spreading trees. Aconite itself, planting and caring for it, does not require much effort, but, like every plant, it needs the attention of a gardener.

Aconite care

Aconite is a perennial plant that does not require much care. It is necessary to loosen and weed the soil around it, remove weeds, water on time.

Fertilizer and feeding of aconite

Aconite has been growing in one place for many years and therefore needs feeding and fertilization. It responds well to mineral fertilizers, organics are excellent for caring for aconite. In the spring, it is recommended to put a small dose of compost under each bush, which will add brightness to the flowers during the flowering period. You can apply fertilizers and top dressing for aconite once a season, at the beginning of flowering, the result is visible almost immediately, the flower will sparkle with bright colors.

In the garden, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the aconite

Plant propagation

Aconite can be propagated in several ways.

Seed method of propagation of aconite. Quite a laborious method that requires certain skills. The seeds of the wrestler need stratification (that is, it is necessary to create conditions for a change in temperature and humidity to stimulate their growth). To obtain this effect, seeds are sown in the ground before winter or at home in a container with earth they are placed in a cold place (refrigerator, cellar, taken out to the balcony). In April, the seeds must be transferred to a warm place for germination. Plant seedlings in the phase of two true leaves dive into separate containers (most conveniently plastic or peat cups). Seedlings of aconite are planted in a permanent place in August, the distance between plants is about 25 cm.Flowering should be expected no earlier than 2-3 seasons.

Aconite seeds

Division of the bush. It is recommended to divide the aconite bush once every four years in the spring. With a sharp spatula, separate the part together with the rhizome and transplant to a new place. Prune the plant so that each young shoot has three buds. The root collar of the plant should be dug in with soil for 2-3 cm. The transplanted culture should be watered abundantly.

Reproduction by tubers. In the first decade of autumn, aconite can be planted with tubers, 2-3 pieces are placed in one hole and added dropwise.

Ripe Aconite Seeds

Propagation by cuttings. Green shoots must be cut in May and transplanted into a prepared place, placed in a greenhouse (covered with foil, agrofibre). After the formation of the plant, it is transplanted to a permanent place.

Attention: work with the wrestler should be in gloves, after work it is necessary to thoroughly wash your hands.

Diseases and pests

Aconite with improper care and cultivation in open ground, especially under fruit trees, can be affected by nematodes (gall, leaf), aphids, slugs, and other pests. Powdery mildew is also dangerous for perennials. To treat a flower from pests should be together with fruit trees with similar preparations. If the affected area of ​​the bush is significant, it is necessary to remove the diseased plant.

Slugs are able to eat plant leaves

Aconite: combination with other plants

Aconite (wrestler) looks spectacular in combination with many other plants, as partners for him are recommended:

• pion;
• delphinium;
• astilba;
• day-lily;
• rudbeckia;
• iris.

Aconite in a flower bed

Aconite in landscape design

Aconite is great for planting in open ground for the formation of landscape design. The flower is effective both in single plantings (made in the form of curtains) and in group - on lawns, flower beds, in mixborders.

The use of aconite as a background for low-growing plants looks interesting. Curly varieties decorate gazebos, decorate the outer walls of houses. A tall perennial is suitable as a kind of screen for closing sheds, various heaps, and other outbuildings. The bright saturated color of aconite will successfully emphasize the beauty of the garden or summer cottage in the photo.

Try to plant aconite in your flower garden, experiment with its different varieties (tall, short, curly), colors, provide conditions for its growth and the plant will give you joy with its colors for several years.

Growing aconite: video

Aconite: photo

Aconite is a genus of poisonous herbaceous plants of the Buttercup family. Perennial plants have straight stems on which alternate palm-like leaves grow. The genus is very similar in properties to larkspur and larkspur.

The name of the flower has a Greek history. Asopae means rock, cliff.

Aconite in history

Akone is not only a cliff, but also the name of a city in Greece, where the sea is of similar colors. According to mythology, the flower appeared thanks to the saliva of Cerberus, the dog that guards the underworld. Hercules defeated the monster, bringing him to earth (11 feat). There, Cerberus dropped some of his saliva, which caused mythical flowers to sprout.

According to the second legend, the flower is called "fighter", which is associated with Scandinavian myths. He appeared after the struggle of the famous god Thor, who defeated a poisonous snake, but died from its poison.

The properties of aconite have been known to human civilization since ancient times.

In Greece and China, it was used to poison arrows by warriors, and the Nepalese poisoned water with it to injure the invader, and also used it in hunting. Even the smell of a flower has a poisonous effect on the body, such a strong poison is contained here.

According to Plutarch, the soldiers of Mark Antony, who were poisoned with aconite, had serious memory lapses, vomited the contents of the stomach along with bile. According to legend, the famous khan Timur was poisoned with aconite, soaking the ruler's skullcap with juice.Aconite is also called wolf, because wolves have been poisoned with it since ancient times.

Aconite care

The poison of the plant is at the heart of another legend about creation. When God created flowers, he gave people joy, such threads of connection with the sky. The devil decided to intervene and looked into each flower, wanting to inject his poison. The Lord sent a wind to the earth, which tilted the plants. But some proudly raised flowers to the sky and became poisonous, succumbing to the influence of Satan. Among them was aconite.

The plant is poisonous due to the presence of alkaloids that affect the nervous system

They paralyze the respiratory center, causing convulsions. The closer to the equatorial latitudes aconite grows, the more toxic it is. In Norway, this flower is eaten by cattle, and in the south it is the worst poison.

If you grow aconite in the garden for many years, taking care of the composition of the soil regularly, over time it will lose its toxicity and become an ordinary flower.

Aconite is widely used in modern and traditional medicine. In Tibet, recipes based on it are used to treat anthrax, pneumonia, and other complex diseases, and in Russia they make external pain relievers. Now many types of aconite are protected by law.

Description of aconite

Aconite description

Plant height - up to 2.5 meters. The plant has dark green palmate-separate lobed leaves (sometimes dissected), which have a regular arrangement on the stem. The flowers are large, purple and blue (white and yellow are found), irregular in shape. They do not grow separately, but gather in inflorescences - brushes. Flowering time - from mid-July to August. Flowers persist on the plant for a long time, more than a month.

Planting aconite

Aconite cultivation

Before deciding to plant nape aconite, you need to weigh the pros and cons. The problem is not that the plant is difficult to grow. Aconite is poisonous, so you need to be extremely careful with it, and if there are children or pets on the site, planting such flowers is excluded. Otherwise, you can face very serious consequences. Children love to pick flowers, but even the smallest amount of aconite juice can cause lethal consequences, especially for a small organism.

• Wolf aconite can be planted anywhere, because it is unpretentious to lighting and the place of growth.
• If a climbing plant is purchased, it is better to plant it near a bush or tree so that there is a base for support.
• It is not recommended to plant young plants under the scorching rays of the sun, as they can burn out.
• Aconite is not grown in swampy areas, as its roots rot from excess moisture. If your site does not have the above problems, and you also do not have children who can be poisoned with aconite juice, you can safely grow it, rejoicing in the most beautiful flowers.

Propagated by seed aconite, which are planted in the soil in the fall. This will allow you to get young shoots in the spring, which will quickly begin to develop and bloom. If you sow a plant in spring, it will appear above the soil only after a year.

This is due to the need for seeds to undergo stratification. This means that they need to stand for about a month at optimal room temperature, and then the same amount - in the cold. If you create such conditions artificially, you can achieve almost instant seed germination. Thus, if the seeds are received too late, you can independently prepare them for planting in the ground at any time of the year, which will significantly save the growing time.

Soil for planting

Aconite is unpretentious to the composition of the soil in which it grows. There are only a few exceptions and requirements for the substrate: it does not tolerate sandy and rocky soil. If the soil is nutritious, airy, drained, slightly moist, it will be an ideal environment for plant development. In the bulk of garden plots, these requirements are met.

How to care for aconite in the garden

Aconite herbaceous plants for open ground photo

The plant does not tolerate the neighborhood with weeds, so they must be constantly removed, loosening the soil. When aconite begins to bloom, it is fed with mineral or organic fertilizers. The soil is mulched with hay, peat or humus, otherwise it will dry out quickly, especially if it's hot outside. It will not be superfluous to arrange an irrigation system, which will provide constant moisture to the garden area. To maintain a pleasant appearance on the flower bed, old flowers are constantly removed, after which it is much easier for new ones to grow.

If you plan to collect and prepare Aconite seeds

Choose the largest inflorescence, wait for it to fade. Tie it with gauze so that the seeds are collected in a container, and not scattered on the ground. In order for the bush to please for years, decades with powerful flowering, it is divided into parts every four years, planting a rhizome.

Aconite comfortably tolerates the effects of frost. The bush is prepared for wintering as follows: the stem is significantly cut off, the rhizome is insulated with peat, covered with a 20-centimeter layer.

Possible growing difficulties

Aconite flower photo

If a wrestler is poisonous, it does not mean that insects and diseases do not attack him. It is a favorite subject for leaf and root nematodes, rape beetle, aphids, slugs.

Diseases are no exception

Ring mosaic, powdery mildew, spotting, greening of flowers, viral lesions, and other problems are often found on aconite. The plant is not treated, but removed completely from the site in order to avoid the spread of the disease.

If the soil is weakly acidic, the drainage system is not carried out, which forces moisture to collect on the site, the roots of aconite strongly rot. The only way out is to use coarse-grained substrates during planting and top dressing with preparations directly under the root.

Using aconite in the garden

Aconite variegated Aconite variegatum

Most of the plants in the garden are grown purely for decorative purposes. Aconite has beautiful white, blue, purple flowers that are combined with other flowering plants in the garden. Curly aconites are perfect for vertical landscaping schemes. Among the different varieties, there are options for a lawn, thickets, simple flower beds. Some plants are used in cutting, interior decoration.

Most aconites contain a strong burning poison in the composition

The exception is a few decorative varieties. This is a very toxic plant, contact with which is fatal. Some people confuse aconite with vegetables, lovage roots, which can be fatal.

India still uses this plant to make poison arrows. To enhance the effect, Dillenia speciosa is added to aconite juice. It is believed that Tamerlane was killed with the help of this toxic plant. It was used by the Germans, Gauls, hunting wild animals, and other tribes.

Physicians began to use aconite in the seventeenth century, when it was used by an Austrian physician serving at the court of the emperor. Now this plant is widely used in folk medicine, homeopathy.

The raw material has the following effect:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antiseptic;
• antispasmodic;
• antineoplastic.

Therefore, the wrestler is used to treat pneumonia, tuberculosis, stomach ulcers, intestines, diphtheria, oncology, epilepsy, and other problems.

Types of decorative aconite

Consider the most popular cultural types of aconite:

1. Dzhungarian Aconite

Dzhungarian Aconite

This perennial grows in the region of Kazakhstan, China, Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, and other neighboring countries. Its natural environment is the humid northern slopes of the mountains. On mountain plateaus, near rivers, the plant does not grow. It is very difficult to find aconite in China, since it is uncontrollably dug out of the roots to make medicine. In Kyrgyzstan, aconite is an industrial raw material that brings good income to the country.

The rhizome of the Dzungarian aconite is a set of accrete cone-shaped roots 2.5 cm long.The plant reaches 130 cm in height, with a straight stem, where dark green, rounded-heart-shaped leaves with wedge-shaped segments, sessile on long petioles, grow. Leaves die off from below, completely falling off by the time of flowering.

The type of inflorescence of aconite is the terminal apical raceme with large purple and blue flowers containing many stamens. Pistils are formed from carpels.

This species blooms in late summer. Then a prefabricated dry three-leaf leaf is formed, inside of which there are small brown seeds. Their formation begins in September.

Aconite curly Aconite volubile

Aconite curly Aconite volubile

The type of climbing aconite is distinguished by high flexible stems - 2 m in height. Grows in Siberia, Korea, China. The carved leaves are dark green in color, the flowers are small in size, collected in large inflorescences. They can be white or purple.

Aconite napellus Aconitum napellus

Aconite napellus Aconite napellus

The homeland of this type of fighter is Europe. It can often be found in gardens here as it is a popular ornamental plant.

The average height of the fighter is 150 cm. The plant forms new root tubers every year, destroying the old ones. The leaves are divided into lobes. A simple shoot ends in pleasant deep blue flowers with sepals, similar to a bumblebee, pollinating exclusively aconite. The plant blooms all summer, forming many fruits with seeds.

Fisher's Aconite

Fischer's Aconite Aconitum fischeri

Fisher's Aconite grows up to 1.6 meters, which is rare for the undersized representatives of the flora of the Far East (the homeland of this species). The leaves are divided into lobes, have a leathery cover. At the end of the shoot is a raceme with dense, bright blue flowers that bloom all summer (June-September).

Aconite Baikal

Aconite Baikal

This species has a slightly smaller height - 1.2 meters. Differs in a very pubescent straight stem, on which purple flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. Leaves are dissected, long-petiolate or sessile. The place of growth is Mongolia, Siberia.

Aconite arcuate

Aconite arcuate

This fighter does not contain poison, therefore it is actively grown by gardeners. Natural habitat - the Far East. Differs in exuberant flowering, frost resistance. This aconite rarely has disease, so it is easy to grow.

Useful properties of aconite

The plant is widely used in folk medicine because it has the following properties:

• antibacterial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antineoplastic;
• anticonvulsant;
• diaphoretic;
• pain reliever;
• narcotic;
• antiallergic;
• sedative;
• hypolipidemic.

Application in homeopathy

Means based on this plant are included in homeopathic preparations, in particular, antipyretic drugs. They are used to treat neuritis, otitis media with severe pain. For the treatment of sciatica, it is prescribed to relieve pain, inflammation.

Also, the plant is useful in combating high blood pressure, other heart problems. They are treated for arrhythmia, endocarditis, pericarditis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, hepatitis. Taking such drugs normalizes urination, helps with menopausal hot flashes, eliminates the consequences of fright. They can also treat skin diseases.

Application in traditional medicine

aconite properties

Aconite preparations are used to combat neuralgia, joint diseases, colds. They are widely used to combat oncology. In cosmetology, they are used to make products for hair growth. The plant uses are as follows:

• ointment;
• extract;
• tincture;
• powder;
• broth;
• rubbing, etc.

Aconite folk remedies are treated for such pathologies:

• arthritis;
• gout;
• inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• sciatica;
• osteochondrosis;
• contusion of soft tissues;
• epilepsy;
• convulsions of various kinds;
• headaches;
• toothache;
• migraine;
• depression;
• nervous disorders;
• tuberculosis;
• oncology;
• paralysis;
• multiple sclerosis.

The wrestler has cytostatic properties, therefore it is used to fight cancer... In addition, it has immunomodulatory properties. But this does not mean that taking a folk drug will exclude classical therapy. The tool is only an auxiliary and is taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.

The plant has diaphoretic properties, therefore, in the form of a tincture, it is used for tonsillitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia. Moreover, due to the antimicrobial properties, such drugs can still fight the infection.

Means successfully treat fibroadenoma of the mammary gland, nodular mastopathy, nodular goiter.

Aconite tincture recipe and application

Aconite wrestler

If you need to take the drug inside

A 10% tincture is prepared in this way: 100 g of roots are infused in 40% alcohol for 2 weeks, filtered and taken according to the doctor's instructions.

The method of taking the tincture takes into account the degree of damage to the body by the disease, as well as the ability to accept such treatment. So, if the reception is sparing, the drug is taken once every day, gradually increasing the dose. On the first day - a drop of tincture in a glass of water, then 2 and up to 10. After that, the dosage is reduced to one drop. Thus, the course of treatment is 20 days, then they take a break for a week and repeat again. There should be at least three courses of treatment in total.

If the intensive regimen is chosen, they drink the drug in the same way, but three times a day.

If you took up the treatment with aconite, it is strictly forbidden to use other poisonous plants.... It can be hemlock, prince, wolf bast, fly agaric. But you can combine the tincture with simple medicines, fees, tinctures, balms. So, a good addition would be black elderberry (especially for the treatment of female diseases), European zyuznik. medicinal lungwort, marsh cinquefoil, Icelandic cetraria, depending on diseases.

Aconite ointment

Ointments based on this plant have an analgesic and cytostatic effect, therefore they are used to treat neuralgia, joint pain, rheumatism, relieve pain in a tumor. If the patient has oncology, the ointment is applied to the area of ​​the affected organs and lymph nodes. An especially effective remedy for the treatment of fibroadenoma of the mammary gland, nodular goiter, nodular mastopathy of the fibrocystic type.

Contraindications

Fresh aconite is a terrible poison, although it has beautiful flowers. Therefore, they cannot be treated on their own., but only under the guidance of a specialist. Even if you take the plant as a finished drug, absolute care is still required.

No less serious is the need to take care of aconite in the garden. You should not cut his flowers so that they stand in a vase; you need to work in a flower bed only with gloves. And if somewhere in the city you see how this plant is in the public domain, you need to tell the children about its dangers.

If contact with poison does happen

Hands and other parts of the body are washed immediately, as the aconitine contained in all plant juices is very toxic. Symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, tingling, numbness of the tongue and mouth, weak threadlike pulse, trouble breathing, cold sweat, complete paralysis. 2 mg of aconitine is enough to kill an adult in 4 hours, and for children, the lethal dose is even less.

If there was contact with the poison of aconite, you need to immediately call an ambulance, since self-help is not enough here. It is also recommended to induce vomiting with salt water, rinse the stomach, do an enema, drink activated charcoal and wait for the arrival of doctors.

According to ancient Greek myth, aconite grew out of the poisonous saliva of the horror-stricken hellish dog Cerberus, whom Hercules brought from the underworld to earth (the eleventh feat of Hercules). The plant owes its name "fighter" to Scandinavian mythology: the fighter grew up on the site of the death of the god Thor, who defeated the poisonous snake and died from his bites. The poisonous properties of aconite were already known in ancient times: the Greeks and Chinese made poison for arrows from it, in Nepal they poisoned bait for large predators and drinking water when the enemy attacked.

Napellus wrestler, or Aconite napellus 'Newry Blue' variety

Attention! The entire plant - from roots to pollen - is extremely poisonous.

Plutarch writes that the soldiers of Mark Antony, poisoned by aconite, lost their memory, and they vomited with bile. According to legend, it was from aconite that the famous khan Timur died - his skullcap was soaked in poisonous juice. The plant's toxicity is caused by the content of alkaloids (primarily aconitine) in it, which affect the central nervous system and cause convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory center.

The toxicity of aconite depends on the geographical location (soil, climate), on the age of the plant - in the southern latitudes it is most poisonous, and in Norway, for example, animals are fed with it. Cultivated in culture, on fertile garden land, aconite after several generations loses its poisonous properties.

The medicinal uses of this plant are very diverse; in Tibet he is called "the king of medicine", he was treated with anthrax, pneumonia; in Russian folk medicine, the wrestler was used as an external pain reliever. To date, some types of aconite are listed in the Red Book.

Aconite, or Wrestler (Aconitum) - genus of perennial herbaceous poisonous plants of the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

Description of aconite

The genus has more than 300 species distributed in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Perennial rhizomatous or root-tuberous herbaceous plants with erect, less often - twisting or curly stems 50-150 cm high (in climbing ones up to 400 cm). Rhizomes are oblong-ovoid up to 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. The depth of root penetration into the soil is 5-30 cm. The leaves are palmate-separate, dissected or lobed, dark green, arranged in regular order.

Irregularly shaped aconite flowers are blue, purple, less often white, yellow or variegated. The corolla-shaped calyx consists of five sepals, and the upper one looks like a helmet, under its cover there are two petals that have turned into nectaries. Flowers are collected in a simple or branched racemose inflorescence up to 50 cm long. Bloom from July to late September. The fruit is a polyspermous leaflet with straight or arched teeth. Seeds are small, gray, brown and black, in 1 g up to 450 pieces, remain viable for 1-1.5 years.

Most popular aconite nodule, he's blue. A highly variable complex species found throughout most of Europe, sometimes subdivided into smaller native species. For example, in the Carpathians, hard aconite and low aconite are distinguished, in the Alps - dense aconite.

The variability of this species, allowing you to choose from a variety of forms, contributed to its spread in gardens, but also caused a terrible confusion in the names. Other closely related species also introduced into the culture did not add clarity. This is paniculate aconite - a southern European species with a branched stem. Flowers on long, spread-out stalks create a loose raceme, seeds with 1 wing. Aconite variegated - as if an intermediate link between them, combines the features of both. It is found with them in the same places, in particular, in the Carpathians. And finally aconite kammarum bicolor Sterka, or graceful - a hybrid of variegated and blue, finally confuses everything. It combines the traits of both parents, but has a more interesting, often two-tone flower coloration. This contributed to the fact that it has long and firmly established itself in our gardens, appearing in the form of different varieties: "Bicolor" - strongly branched, with short inflorescences of white flowers with a purple border. "Grandiflorum Album" (‘Grandiflorum Album’) with long brushes of pure white flowers, ‘Pink Sensation’ pink.

Wrestler, or Aconite Lamarck (Aconitum lamarckii)

Growing aconite

Many types of Aconites are quite winter-hardy. When placing in the garden, it must be borne in mind that Aconite Antorra (Aconite anthora) and Aconite Karmikhel (Aconitum carmichaelii) should be planted in high, sunny locations. The rest easily put up with waterlogging.

Aconites tolerate transplantation well. It is convenient to do it in spring or autumn, when the stems have not yet grown or have already been cut. The size of the planting pit should be such that the rhizome fits freely in it. Before planting, the pit is filled with full mineral fertilizer (15–20 g per planting pit). The root collar is deepened by 1–2 cm.

Aconite is very easy to propagate vegetatively, by dividing the rhizomes: in spring or autumn, the bush is easily divided into parts. The landing distance should be at least 25-30 cm.

Reproduction by seeds is also possible. But in Aconites the embryo of the seed is not fully developed, so the seeds can sprout only after a year, when they are ripe. It is possible to achieve faster germination of seeds by applying pre-sowing preparation, in particular, stratification. Seedlings usually bloom in the 2-3rd year. Varietal characteristics are not preserved during seed propagation.

Aconite care

Caring for Aconites is usual: loosening, feeding, weeding, removing dried inflorescences, in dry times - watering.

Plants are often affected by powdery mildew.

Wrestler Hemsley, or Aconite Hemsley (Aconitum Hemsleyanum)

Planting aconite seeds

Aconite propagates by seeds, cuttings, dividing a bush or daughter tubers. Seeds are sown in the fall of the harvest year in slightly shaded areas with moist soil. Seedlings appear in the spring of next year. When sowing in spring, the seeds germinate after a year and their germination capacity is significantly reduced.

A two-stage stratification is recommended: warm at 20..25 ° C for about a month and in cold at 2..4 ° C for up to three months, after which the seeds germinate together at room temperature. At the stage of one or two leaves, seedlings of aconite dive at a distance of 10 cm, and in autumn they are planted in place according to the scheme 25 x 30. Young plants bloom in 2-3 years. Varietal characteristics are not preserved during seed propagation.

Reproduction of aconite

Rhizome species of aconite are divided and planted in spring, root-tuber ones - in autumn, in the first half of September. The planting distance should be at least 25-30 cm, as the bushes grow rapidly. To improve flowering, they must be divided every four years and transplanted to a new location. For cuttings, young herbaceous shoots 10-12 cm high are used, which develop in early spring from overwintered tubers. Older shoots do not take root due to lignification.

Curly wrestler, or Aconite curly (Aconite volubile)

The use of aconite in garden design

The wrestler is used in single and small group landings, mixborders. Curly views are effective in vertical landscaping of gazebos and verandas. Aconite inflorescences can be used for bouquets. Cutting is done when one third of the flowers have blossomed. Used in medicine. Some species are included in the Red Book.

Although aconites are decorative throughout the season thanks to their dense and beautifully cut leaves, flowering adds charm to them. The first to bloomhigh aconite (Aconitum septentrionale) - its flowers open at the end of May. Woolly wrestler (Aconitum lasiostomum), and then White-mouth wrestler (Aconite leucostomum) pick up the baton in June, join them in July aconites dubravny (Antidote wrestler, or Aconite anthora), paniculate (Garden wrestler (Aconitum cammarum)), some varieties of cammarum, and in August they already bloom Fisher's aconite (Aconitum fischeri), climbing species and many of the group nape wrestler, he is blue (Aconitum napellus). Aconites have a long flowering, usually it stretches for a month or more.

Wrestler or Aconite white-tipped, or white-tipped, or pale-tipped (Aconitum leucostomum)

Types and varieties of aconite

Nape wrestler, or Aconite nodule he is Aconite blue (Aconitum napellus) is native to Eurasia. (By the way, the monks' hood was called "klobuk", hence the name klobuchkovy). It is he who is most often found in Russian gardens. Large bushes (up to 2 m high) with dark purple, sometimes almost black flowers are not only beautiful all season, but also do not require a garter - their stems are strong and stable. When the central part of the shoot fades, the lateral ones bloom, which is why the flowering lasts about a month. There are several natural forms of this species.

• Aconite nodular compact (Aconitum napellus subsp. Nanum). Up to 1 m in height. The flowers are gray-lilac or off-white. Blooms in the first half of July.
• Aconite nodule form lobelium (Aconite napellus subsp.lobelii).Height 1.2-1.5 m. Flowers in dense inflorescences are blue or blue-blue. And the Glecherries form is a form with white flowers. They bloom in early July.
• Aconite nodule pyramidal shape (Aconite napellus subs.paniculatum). Height 1–1.5 m. Flowers are violet-blue, very large. This subspecies is the source of the most beautiful varieties. ‘Newry Blue’ flowers in navy blue. Blooms from July to August.
• Aconite napellus form of Tavrik (Aconitum napellus subsp. Tauricum). Dwarf form about 60 cm high. Originally from the vicinity of Salzburg and Tyrol.

Wrestler napellus, or Aconite napellus (Aconitum napellus)

Aconite nodule varieties:

• ‘Blue Scepter’ with violet-blue flowers and a white center, collected in dense brushes,
• ‘Bressingham Spire’ (height 90 cm) - with violet-blue.

Aconite bicolor (Aconitum bicolor) in some sources refer to the subspecies of nodule aconite, however, it is more often distinguished as a separate species. They are indeed very similar, but the two-tone aconite flowers are white with a wide violet-blue edging.

Wrestler or Aconite bicolor (Aconite bicolor)

Wrestler, or Aconite motley (Aconitum variegatum) from the foothills of Central Europe. Prefers forest glades overgrown with herbs. The height of the stems is up to 2 m, the leaves are strongly dissected, the flowers are large, blue, white with a blue edge or pure white. Flowering time - end of July - September. Aconite variegated also has natural forms:

• Aconite variegated shape graceful (Aconitum variegatum subsp. Gracile), beautiful and easy to grow variety, up to 1 m high;
• Aconite variegated Judenberg (Aconitum variegatum subsp. Judenbergense) with strong, straight, but not very stable stems over 2 m in height.

Wrestler or Aconite variegated (Aconite variegatum)

Garden wrestler, or garden aconite (Aconite cammarum) is a widespread hybrid obtained by crossing Aconite napellus, Aconite bicolor and Aconite variegated. It is very similar to them, but the stems are thinner (require a light garter), the leaves are dissected into narrower lobes, and the flowers have an elongated helmet. There are also undersized varieties with dense inflorescences, they do not need a garter. The best place for aconite x saber is semi-shady or sunny, but protected from direct rays during hot times of the day. Varieties of garden aconite:

• ‘Rubellum’ - flowers are pale grayish pink;
• ‘Eleonora’ - white flowers with a narrow blue edging;
• ‘Nachthimmel’ - with very large dark purple flowers;
• 'Franz Marc' and 'Caerulleum' - with blue flowers.

Wrestler or Aconite garden "Two-color" (Aconitum cammarum ‘Bicolor’)

In addition to these, the most common and easy-to-grow aconites, there are several rather rare, but very spectacular species.

Northern fighter, or Wrestler high, or Ordinary wrestler (Aconitum septentrionale). Originally from Sweden. Very similar to wolf aconite. It differs from him only in the color of the flowers: they are dirty lilac. Its 'Ivorine' with white flowers is popular. This is the earliest flowering species, the beginning of flowering occurs at the end of June.

Wrestler or Aconite northern, tall, or ordinary (Aconitum septentrionale)

Wolf aconite (Aconitum lycoctonum). Originally from Europe, it grows in damp tall-grass spruce-deciduous forests, on the banks of rivers and streams. The height of the stems is from 60 cm to 2 m. The flowers are sulfur-yellow, and the height of the helmets is almost twice the width of the flower.

Wolf aconite (Aconitum lycoctonum)

Antidote fighter, or Aconite Anthora (Aconite anthora). Mountain view, height is only 30-40 cm, homeland - Alps, Pyrenees, Caucasus. Straight stems are crowned with large sulfur-yellow flowers. Loves neutral and moderately fertile soil. On fertile grows up to 60–90 cm. Blooms in mid-July.

Antidote fighter, or Aconite Anthora (Aconite anthora)

Karmichel wrestler, or Aconite Karmikhel (Aconitum carmichaelii). Originally from the Far East and China. Very beautiful view with thick high (up to 2 m) stems and very large flowers. Blooms late, in late August - September, and only in an open, sunny place. The flowers are blue. There is a subspecies with a cornflower blue color - the Karmikhel aconite, Wilson's form.

Wrestler or Aconite Karmikhel (Aconitum carmichaelii)

Very handsome Curly wrestler, or Aconite curly (Aconitum volubile) with flexible stems (more than 2 m) wrapped around the supports. His homeland is Korea, Siberia.Beautiful carved leaves, graceful dark purple flowers in loose clusters hanging from supports, reminiscent of Chinese silk miniatures. There is also a form with white flowers. This species requires landing in partial shade.

Aconite is a poisonous perennial herb from the Buttercup family. Due to the similarity of flowers with a knight's helmet, its second name appeared - "fighter". The first mentions of an unusual plant that has become a symbol of cold and crime can be found in ancient Greek and Scandinavian myths.

Aconite: description, varieties and varieties

This is a tall plant with erect (up to 1.5 m), sometimes climbing (up to 4 m) shoots, which are covered with alternately arranged leaf plates of a finger-split or dissected form. The root system is represented by two types - tuberous or pivotal. During flowering, which is observed for a long time from the beginning of summer to October, flowers of various colors bloom, collected in racemose inflorescences. The plant is popularly called "wolf aconite" because of its toxicity.

The genus includes more than 300 species, of which the most spectacular are grown in culture:

• Aconite nodule. A popular species, the height of which can vary from 30 to 130 cm. The plant with glossy seven-split leaves of dark green color blooms in summer when blue or blue clusters of inflorescences, consisting of flowers with a diameter of 4 cm, bloom.The average flowering duration is a month. In culture, the flower has been grown since the 16th century and is known to many as pharmacy aconite, from which the alkaloid aconitine is obtained, which is used in the treatment of rheumatic and neuralgic disorders. The klobuchkovy species is winter-hardy and does not need shelter. Popular varieties: Bressineham Spire, Newry Blue, Carneum, Eleonora.
• Aconite northern - herbaceous plants of this species stand out up to 2 m high and long racemose inflorescences up to half a meter long. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer, when purple flowers with a grayish tinge bloom. Erect, fleecy shoots are covered with palmate-separated leaf plates of green color.
• Aconite curly. A species with a thin twisted stem, the length of which can reach 4 m. The shoot is covered with dissected petiole leaves, with the help of which the plant rests on adjacent crops. Blue flowers are collected in inflorescences up to 1 m tall. The flowering phase is observed in late summer - early autumn.

Important! Despite the plant's toxicity, it has found its use in medicine thanks to the alkaloids it contains. For example, according to the famous physician Stork, aconite is a potential anticancer agent.

Planting plants in open ground

Unpretentious aconite for full development, accompanied by abundant and long flowering, needs a competent planting.

Selection of varieties and seedlings of aconite

The preparatory stage, during which the florist:

• Chooses a variety depending on the future planting site. It is important to take into account the area that is planned to be allocated to the flower, as well as to represent the composition itself, which will help determine the color.
• Examines the planting material at a specialized point of sale for visible damage and signs of diseases, insects.

Site and soil preparation

When choosing a location, preference should be given to shaded areas located on hills, where groundwater is deep enough.

Aconite can grow on almost any soil, except for rocky and heavy ones. But in order to create comfortable conditions for the plant, it is better to choose fertile soils with a loose structure.

If the proposed site does not have such parameters, then it is worth preparing the beds in advance: for digging, add compost with a small amount of sand and mineral fertilizers.

Landing technology

The procedure is carried out as follows:

1. In the loosened area, holes are dug out with sizes slightly exceeding the size of the root system of the seedlings.
2. Sand is added to each depression.
3. Further, the planting material is lowered into it. A support is installed if necessary. After that, everything is covered with the excavated earth.
4. The seedling is watered.
5. The trunk circle is mulched with sawdust.

How to care for aconite?

Every grower wants to grow healthy plants that will bloom luxuriantly. In moving towards this goal, one should not forget about the need to perform basic agrotechnical care measures.

Watering aconite

Despite the drought tolerance of the culture, it is not necessary to test its extreme capabilities. During hot periods, watering should be regular and abundant.

Fertilization and feeding

Representatives of the genus do not need frequent feeding.

For good growth and beautiful flowering, it is enough to apply fertilizer twice a season:

• in early spring, the soil is enriched with humus, which contains a large amount of nitrogen and acts as a ripper;
• before flowering, the bushes are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Loosening and weeding of the soil

To prevent the formation of an airtight crust after watering, the soil should be systematically loosened with the simultaneous removal of weeds. To save time on these procedures will allow mulching the trunk circle, which, moreover, will retain moisture.

How to deal with diseases and pests?

Poisonous aconite is quite resistant to damage by harmful organisms. But sometimes, on examination, the following may be noted:

• Powdery mildew. Fungal disease, the cause of which is waterlogging of the soil or high occurrence of groundwater, leading to constant dampness. At the first manifestations of the disease, to stop its development, the affected shoots are removed, and the plantings are sprayed with a fungicide.
• Aphids, spider mites. Dangerous insects, which, in addition to causing direct harm to the plant, can be carriers of viral diseases. Coping with pest attacks is quite simple if you resort to a chemical method of protection - insecticidal treatments.

Reproduction methods

Among the methods of reproduction, both seed and vegetative are distinguished.

Seed method

The most time consuming method, which is most often used by breeders to develop new forms and varieties.

However, if a florist decides to grow aconite from seeds, then he should adhere to the following scheme:

1. For stratification, seeds are sown in open ground before winter.
2. After the emergence of seedlings, in the spring, the seedlings are covered with a film.
3. The covering material is periodically removed for humidification and ventilation.
4. With a very dense sowing, after the formation of 3 leaves, the seedlings dive.
5. Plants are planted in a permanent place by autumn.
6. The first flowering with this method of reproduction is noted no earlier than 2 years later.

Cuttings

The procedure is carried out in May, according to this algorithm:

1. Cuttings are cut from the shoots with a heel of 10 cm in length.
2. The planting material is kept in a growth stimulator, after which it is planted in the ground and covered with cans.
3. After rooting, new plants are planted in their permanent growing areas.

Dividing the bush

Aconite is a plant that requires rejuvenation every 4 years.

For this:

1. The extracted root is divided into parts with a sharp instrument, each of which must have at least 2 buds and a part of the root system.
2. Delenki are immediately planted in prepared holes with a root collar deepening by 2 cm.

Combination of aconite with other plants

To create beautiful flower arrangements in combination with aconite, it is recommended to plant the following crops:

• bushy peony with large inflorescences;
• tall delphinium and iris;
• lush astilbe.

Application in landscape design

When decorating a personal plot, landscape designers do not forget about this spectacular culture, using it, depending on the variety, as follows:

• In group plantings, tall aconite varieties are an excellent background crop for low-growing plants.
• Varieties with climbing shoots, reminiscent of climbing vines, are used to decorate gazebos, outbuildings and various fences.
• Also, aconites are often found in mixborders and in flower beds.

Thus, growing healthy aconite in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors is easy. But when choosing this poisonous plant as a decoration for a personal plot, one should not forget about the harm that it can cause in contact with children or pets.