Many Aconitums are bicolor, so why did this one earn the Royal Horticulture Society's Award of Garden Merit? There's the unusually strong combination of pure white with a clearly-defined border of rich violet. The impressive number of flowers a single plant produces. And the way it keeps on blooming for two months or so. In addition those 4-foot tall stalks don't usually need staking.

Aconitums are commonly known as monkshood, because the upper
sepal of each flower resembles the hoods of medieval monks. They
attract a variety of butterflies and moths, and are the primary food
source for Old World bees. Another common name, wolfbane, refers to the
poison made
from this plant's roots, which was used to tip hunting arrows.
Medicinal (and poisonous) uses of this plant date back to ancient times.
What's the difference between a medicine and a poison? Dosage.