The genus Aconitum is a sinister one, containing some of the most poisonous plants in the world, a fact known about them since ancient times. The common name for garden varieties, monkshood, comes from the curious cowl or hooded shape of the flowers, though the plant is also known as wolf’s bane. Some species were long ago ground into powder and mixed with meat to poison wolves…

The roles groundcovers play, plus some excellent choices for different situations