This plant is probably native in the south West and south Wales according to Stace Ed 3 but you do see it well naturalised at the sides of roads which is where this patch of plants was found. Both these plants have glabrous pedicels (A. napellus is hairy) with the upper petal higher than wide. These plants therefore are most likely to be the hybrid between Aconitum variegatum and Aconitum napellus (= Aconitum x stoerkianum).

Aconitum sp are famous for being very poisonous. The alkaloids it contains are said to be a more powerful poison even than cyanide so don't grow it in your garden where it's very poisonous roots have been mistaken for Horse-radish. One of the herbal antidotes to Aconite poison is a tincture of Digitalis.

The antidote to a Monk's-hood is a Foxglove!

The name has recently changed (New Flora of the British Isles Third Edition by Clive Stace 2010) from Aconitum x cammarum to Acontum x stoerkianum.

LHS: Near Wooler Northumberland 16th July 2006 RHS Helsby Hill 19th Oct 2007

Added on 30th July 2006, Validated 19th Dec 2007, updated 20th February 2010, updated 20th April 2010, updated 26th Feb 2012