Aconitum carmichaelii - Japanese Aconite

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	A carmichaeli wilsonii. A. fischeri. Forbes.&Hemsl. non Rchb.
Range:	E. Asia - C. and W. China to N. America.

Aconitum carmichaelii (Japanese Aconite) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Japanese Aconite will flower in February to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Japanese Aconite will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Japanese Aconite prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Japanese Aconite can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Not known

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade

Cultivation Details

Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Plants will only thrive in a sunny position if the soil remains moist throughout the growing season[238]. Prefers a calcareous soil. A very ornamental plant[233], there are some named forms[238]. It grows well in open woodlands[1, 4]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer[233]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes[54]. Closely related to A. fischeri and considered to be part of that species by some botanists[1].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
A widely used herbal remedy in China, where it is cultivated for its root[218]. This is harvested in the autumn as the plant dies down and is then dried before being used. The root is anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, cardiotonic, stimulant and vasodilator[176, 218, 238]. It is used in the treatment of shock and collapse, chronic diseases with symptoms of cold, gastralgia and rheumatic arthralgia, oedema and diarrhoea due to hypofunction of the spleen and kidney[176]. Use with great caution, the plant is very poisonous and should not be used internally[218] unless under the direction of a qualified practitioner[238]. Overdoses lead to numbness of the tongue, lips and extremities, nausea, vomiting, irritability and coma[176].

• Anaesthetic - Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body.
• Analgesic - Relieves pain.
• Antiinflammatory - Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
• Antirheumatic - Treats rheumatism.
• Cardiotonic - A tonic for the heart.
• Vasodilator - Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[111]. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate[133]. 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. Division - best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn[1, 111]. 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[233].

Known Hazards

The whole plant is highly toxic - simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people[1, 238].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

'' - There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of China

Author:
Rating: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher : On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.
Date of Publication : 1994

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