Aconite: Beautiful but dangerous flowers

THEaconite It is a herbaceous plant that grows in Asia, Europe, and North America. Its fragrance-free flowers form characteristic spikes and spots of blue, lilac, pink, and white. The erect stem is almost always simple and can grow over a meter tall. leaves, alternate, have a long petiole; the blade is divided into five lobes which are in turn deeply incised into long, thin segments; the surface is glabrous, the veins are very evident on the underside.

ACONITE

The best known species in Italy is monkshoodA very beautiful plant, but also one of the most toxic plants in our country. It's frequently found in Alpine heights, and if you want to grow it, you must take precautions.

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PRECAUTIONS

Aconite should be grown as a background for a border, and the toxicity of the plant is contained in its flowersSo, just keep them away from children and anyone unfamiliar with this aspect of aconite. The plant, which can grow up to about a meter tall, produces spike-shaped flowers. The other thing to remember is to grow aconite in groups and not in overly accessible flowerbeds.

ACONITE POISON

The poison of aconite is deadly. It's all due to a substance, aconitine, contained in the flowers. Its action is extremely rapid: in a span of between 10 and 90 minutes, the aconite flowers produce their devastating effects. pruritus to palpitations. To tachycardia and difficulty breathing. Just three grams of aconitine can cause death within a few hours. Furthermore, the effects of aconite contact with human skin should not be underestimated, ranging from itching to motor problems.

EXPOSURE AND CLIMATE

Aconitums prefer temperate climates. They enjoy light shade, but, like many other plants, they adapt to flowers, even in full sun. They suffer from excessively windy areas.

SOIL AND CULTIVATION CARE

The ideal for the aconite genus is a moist, humus-rich soil, to be fertilized periodically with fertilizer ternary.

IRRIGATION

Keep the soil constantly moist, avoiding excess water. watering They should be done from early spring until the end of summer, and then interrupted in autumn and winter.

TO KNOW MORE: Aquilegia, the flower that resembles an orchid

SOWING AND FLOWERING

Propagation can be done either by seed or by dividing the clumps, in spring or autumn. Flowering begins in late June.

PROBLEMS AND REMEDIES

The aconite It can be attacked by botrytis (a gray mold) and damaged by phytophagous insects. Use specific pesticides as needed.

THREE FLOWERS TO DECORATE YOUR BALCONY WITH:

• Tulips: How to Grow Them on the Balcony and in Pots
• Wisteria: the flower that announces spring
• Lavender: How to Grow It in Pots and on the Balcony