Wolf's bane: A beautiful yet deadly addition to your garden

Wolf's bane, or Aconitum, is a highly toxic perennial plant that looks extraordinarily beautiful but also poses a deadly threat. Think twice before planting it in your garden.

Many names describe the same extremely poisonous plant: Wolf's bane, Aconite, or Monkshood. It inhabits mountainous areas, including rocky slopes, stream banks, forest edges, meadows, and herbaceous areas.

Aconite is a tall plant with straight stems, reaching up to 1.2 meters. Dark green, large palm-shaped leaves characterize it. From July to August, purple-blue, helmet-like flowers bloom at the top of its stems, gathered in dense clusters. It prefers moist soils and semi-shaded or shaded positions. Propagation is possible through division in the spring or fall from seeds.

Despite being under strict species protection, aconite can also be found in gardens and allotments, where it is cultivated for its attractive appearance. However, it is crucial to remember that Aconite is a highly poisonous plant that poses a deadly threat.

The Health Department warns that Aconite is one of the most toxic plants, containing a lethal dose of poison in just a few milligrams. Aconitine, a substance present throughout the plant, penetrates even through the skin, causing numbness, paralysis, anxiety, and abdominal pain, leading to death by respiratory or cardiac arrest.

The toxicity of aconitine was known as far back as antiquity, as evidenced by Emperor Claudius's poisoning. Aconite also contains other toxic compounds, such as aconine, napelline, and mesaconine, used in court intrigues during the Renaissance.

When planting Aconites, keep the distances between 0.75 and 1 meter. They do not require fertilization, but moderate watering is recommended to avoid fungal diseases. After blooming, the stems should be trimmed to around 20 centimetres. Due to the plant's high toxicity, all care work should be done wearing gloves.