Well, I found that aconitums in general do not like excessively hot nighttime temps in late summer, nor do they like what I called hair drier winds which dessicate thoroughly.

Given that, I'm interested in seeing where geographically people find them to thrive.

I have two, Aconitum x cammarum bicolor and another I'm not sure which one possibly carmichaelii, grows 4-5' blooms in october here. What I really like about them the slugs and snails leave them alone, right beside them the cardiocrinums look like someone aimed a shotgun at them.

Mine get a bit of morning sun, the rest of the day semi shade. A great no fuss plant here, even when not in bloom the foliage is lovely.

Annette

I love monkshood in the garden, though I wouldn't plant it for easy access by children. All of our monkshood is too tall for the front of mixed perennial beds anyway.

I'd say Arend's (fall) monkshood is the single most useful monkshood here. It's a real workhorse of the fall perennial garden.

My favourite monkshood colour is Aconitum 'Spark's Variety'. It grows well over six foot tall in our garden, so staking it is no easy feat. It's possible the excessive height is related to the spring fertilization received by the cedar hedge just behind it.

Picture August 6, 2010.

Only one I have ever had success with is Arendsii
As said above, the night temps and high humidity here just kill off most of the others.

They are always good for that late summer shot of electric blue

Of course I agree Campanula. The flowers are the most amazing shade of blue. (Here is some flowers from a couple of falls ago).

{{gwi:222970}}

They are one of the first perennials to show life each spring.

(Below are my two plants as of today; very vigorous).

But it has been my experience that the stalks can flop if there is an extended dry spell.

I did a bit of an experiment last season and for one of the two clumps I have I did a "Chelsea Chop". It did still bloom and of course was less tall overall.

UPDATE:

After being (overly?) impressed by our spring blooming "Ivorine" this genus has become a bit of a "bee in my bonnet". And so I have added 3 more to our 'collection'. Today I picked up "Blue Lagoon" and "Japonicum". (Not sure when I will put them in the ground given the extended heat and lack of rain).

I planted this"Bi-Color" in July and although the bushiness won't happen for a few years, it is blooming now:

My main one started forming buds a few weeks ago and they've just started changing colour.

I got this 3-4 years ago as a small hand-sized clump from a school fundraising plant sale. It gradually grew more large every year since, and now stands just over 4 feet tall. I have no idea which variety it is (anybody know?).

It's been a mixed year for me. I lost an early Spark's variety completely during our unusually hot, dry summer and a whole bunch of late summer ones simply collapsed flat on the ground. looking an unsightly mess. A wayward drive-on managed to mangle my small seedling ivorine (I have faith for next year).The ones in my nascent woodland garden, supported within the stems of a viburnum, are flowering...although the japanese anemones, as of 2 weeks ago, were still struggling. Not too worried as it has taken me upwards of 3 years to fully establish JAs. Finally got around to ordering seeds of the twining hemsleyanum 'Red Wine' ...and have a fancy to also order another twiner, the navy blue a.volubile.

Well after some years...I don't see many posters in the South..so it seems confirmed.

twining hemsleyanum 'Red Wine'

Have you seen this variety in person Campanula? What a unique color for a Monkshood.

I have, Rouge...but volubile is new to me and apparently more vigorous, scrambling to around 16 feet. I plan to send mine up the ivy covered poplar trunks.