Aconitum arendsii
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
The flower size was good (despite the fact that they struggled) and they have a nice fragrance; Excellent fall color - stiff stems; Nice tall, dark blue flowers, pest free.
Year 2:
Excellent fall color, stiff stems, long vase life, can take multiple frost and still be cuttable.
Problems:
Year 1:
This was rotten on arrival - apparently is a poor shipper; I'm not sure that these will grow well enough here to be used as a cut flower (zone 7a); Blooms very late (zone 6) B Corms do not store well - must be shipped soon after digging; None of the roots came up B They were planted in perfect conditions immediately, upon arrival; Blooms over very short period, 3-4 weeks, July-August B Completely dormant in winter time so it can get lost.
Year 2:
Never flowered, died in our climate (Zone 8a); Bulbs rotten when arrived 2001, too bad; Too much west coast production - market flooded.
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 43 | 54 | 1.8 | 28.8 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 0-100 | 0-7 | 14-48 | 4 | 4-5 | 3-4 | 3-5 | 2-4 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 95.0 | 4.0 | 32.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Range of Responses | 85-100 | 0-7 | 20-44 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5 | 5 | 4-5 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Here & Now Gardens (HN)
P.O. Box 6
Gales Creek, OR 97117
503-357-5774
FAX 503-357-3858
Comments:
Year 1:
We had a cooler than normal summer and I had them in about 50% shade B They survived the summer B I didn't think that they would live here, I'm still not sure that they will; Similar to other aconitum and to A. carmichaelii; Plants (tubers) evaluated here are from earlier planting of purchased material.
Year 2:
Similar to other aconitum, this is the fall aconitum; Very vigorous - must be dug and divided every 2-3 years, corms store poorly, replant quickly (Zone 6).