What is Monkshood?
If you are a fan of fantasy stories and movies then you must have come across the name Monkshood quite a number of times. Aside from this name, it is also popular for some other names like aconite, wolfsbane, devil’s helmet, queen of poison, blue rocket, etc. Rings a bell, right?
Monkshood is a purple (or sometimes blue) wildflower that grows in the United States, Canada, Europe, and across the Eastern parts of the Himalayas in Asia. It is a perennial charming herb that can grow upto three feet tall.
It is called Monkshood because of the hoodlike shape of the flowers. The flowers are said to look like old-fashioned hoods worn by the monks of Greek mythology. Interestingly, according to the mythology it’s said to be one of the ingredients of witches brew.
Why Should You Get Rid of Monkshood?
By the names like wolfsbane and devil’s helmet, you must have already figured out that this thing is not something nice to have in your garden.
And you are absolutely right. Because all parts of this monkshood are poisonous including the seeds, roots, and even flowers. During ancient times criminals and wild beasts especially wolves were poisoned with the extract from this wild plant. Hence it is called wolfsbane.
And here is the part where it gets scarier. This plant is not just any poison. It’s called the queen of poisons. It contains a number of poisons called Aconitine, Mesaconitine, and Hypaconitine. If a person or a pet accidentally touches it, the plant will show its effects right away.
It gets absorbed in the skin with touch and changes the normal rhythm of the heart. And if someone ingests the plant unknowingly, his throat, face, and mouth parts will go numb and anesthetized at once.
In addition, the person will feel dizzy, sick, and nauseated. His blood pressure will also fall drastically. Shockingly the eyesight will become blurry and the person will start vomiting.
In the worst case scenario, the person can get paralysed right at once and also can have a high risk of heart attack and organ failure that can lead him to untimely death.
Sometimes it can grow in the gardens out of nowhere and can get mixed with fresh garden harvested products. So, getting rid of the monkshood as soon as possible should be the first priority for anyone.
The good news is, you won’t have to be afraid of this wild poison because I have prepared a thorough action guide for you so that you can get rid of the Monkshood very easily like an expert.
So, let’s get down to business–
How to Get Rid of Monkshood?
- Since the Monkshood is very poisonous, before handling them you have to prepare yourself.
- Wear a long-sleeved coverall and thick long-sleeved gloves. (our pick: Vgo 1-Pair Premium Geniune Goat Leather Extra-long Cuff Thornproof Gardening Gloves)
- Also, it’s good to wear a protective face mask before going near them to avoid inhaling any pollen from the wolfsbane.
- Now that you are ready, you have to dig them up and immediately put them in a plastic bag.
- Make sure you dig deep and get rid of any seeds and plant parts present in the soil.
- You have to get rid of the soil too. Because if the soil has any seeds then these plants can grow again.
- Dig up the soil and fill a big sack with the help of a shovel.
- Also, be careful not to touch any part of the plant with bare skin.
- After you have put all the plants in the plastic bag, dispose of it in a waste bin along with the sack of soil.
- After that, wash your hands with a disinfectant.
- Then wash the gloves and clothes very thoroughly that you were wearing while removing the monkshood.
- Also, you can spray a strong broad-spectrum herbicide to effectively kill the monkshood. (our pick: Roundup Ready-To-Use Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer)
- Alternatively, you can pour some boiling water over the monkshood plants and make sure the hot water reaches deep into the roots.
- After that, dispose of the dead plant in the same way mentioned above.
- You can also follow these two homemade weed killer recipes:
#Recipe-1:Rubbing Alcohol Weed Killer Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of water
- 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol
Steps:
- Mix both the ingredients and pour it directly into the monkshood plants in a hot and dry period.
- Avoid pouring it on a rainy day as rain can wash away and reduce the effect.
- Make sure the weed killer doesn’t get in contact with other healthy plants
#Recipe-2: Vinegar Weed Killer Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of vinegar
- A quarter cup of salt and
- 2 tablespoons of dish soap
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients together and stir very well
- Then pour enough of it over to soak the monkshood plant in a hot sunny day
- You can store the leftover for using it again as a weed killer
- Be careful because this solution can kill any plant. So make sure you keep your desired plants away from its contact
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Wolfsbane and Monkshood the same?
Yes, they are the same plant. Once monkshood was used to poison the arrow heads that were used to kill the wolves. This is why it is also known as wolfsbane. It also goes by the name “aconite”.
What Will Happen If Someone Touches Monkshood?
Every part of this Monkshood is poisonous, especially the roots. The poisoning from aconitine can slow the heart rate, cause convulsions and paralysis, cause vomiting and nausea, and even multiple organ failure that is likely to cause death.
Should I Get Rid Of Monkshood?
This is an obvious thing to do if you have children and pets in your home since they are extremely toxic. But if you wish to grow then you can have this beautiful wild poison in an isolated place in your garden. But don’t forget to make sure no one can touch and reach them.
What Colors Do The Monkshoods Come In?
Monkshood or wolfsbane comes in many colors like indigo blue, lavender-blue, ice blue, and deep purple and you can even find pure white, pink, and mixed-colored cultivars around the world.
Conclusion
Monkshood is an exotic natural beauty and a fantasy turned into reality. But a little contact with it can lead up to so many health hazards including death. This is why monkshood needs to be taken care of like an expert.
There is no need to be scared if you find wolfsbane growing in your area. Just follow the steps mentioned above in the article with some careful protective actions. And you will be able to remove them very easily.
In this article, I have made a detailed description of how to get rid of the monkshood in several different ways. I hope this article helped you to choose a convenient way of killing the poisonous monkshood from your garden without bringing yourself any harm.
