Practical
Plants

Aconitum volubile

a perennial woody member of the Aconitum genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
2 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is highly toxic - simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people[1][6].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - dried and cooked[4]. This report should be treated with great distrust due to the poisonous nature of the genus[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried root is anaesthetic[5]. It is also used in the same ways as A. napellus, which means that it is anodyne, diaphoretic and diuretic[9]. This is a very poisonous plant and should only be used with extreme caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Product or use
Anaesthetic
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - W. China, Korea, Mongolia.
Habitat
Thickets in the sub-alpine zone to 4000 metres[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[2]. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. This species is easier from seed than most members of the genus[12]. Division - best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn[1][2]. Another report says that division is best carried out in the autumn or late winter because the plants come into growth very early in the year[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees[1], climbing through dwarf shrubs[12]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade[6]. Prefers a calcareous soil. There is some confusion over the naming of this species. A. volubilis comes from Altai in Mongolia, reports for A. volubile in Korea probably refer to A. neotortuosum[1]. Grows well in open woodlands[9]. A climbing plant, twining around supports[7]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer[8]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  11. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

  12. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

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