Wolfsbane

Aconitum, commonly known as wolfsbane or monkshood, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. They are native to mountainous areas of the Northern Hemisphere, producing tall spikes of striking blue, purple, white, or yellow flowers that resemble the hoods of medieval monks. While highly valued in ornamental horticulture for their dramatic vertical presence and late-season blooms, every part of the plant contains extremely potent diterpenoid alkaloids, making it one of the most famously toxic plants found in temperate gardens. Historically associated with folklore, medicine, and poisoning, it requires careful handling and deliberate placement.