Monkshood mystery

Question

Good morning,

Last year I started incorporating various monkshood varieties in order to have an ongoing
Blue show over the summer. ( I’m in central PA, zone 6b,7a)
I’ve found this plant a bit frustrating at times.

What cultivars would you recommend for early to mid summer bloom?
Have you been able to find the stainless steel variety? If so where?
Have you seen monkshoods plants “disappear”? I’ve read that they can be “ephemeral”, are “sometimes finicky about transplanting” as well as a story by my daughter in law who said in her moms garden they would disappear for a season or two??? Quite a few of my newly transplanted monkshood, seemingly healthy, just “ disappeared” a few month in while others didn’t???
Is this a known phenomenon and will they come back or do they need to be replaced?
Has anyone been successful in growing them from seeds? ( I’ve been uniformly unsuccessful
Using direct sow, indoor start and winter sow)

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Answer 1

I read they can be ephemeral in their first year. Once established, they are long lived plants. (You are aware of their poisonous status?) They can be grown from seed, but it can take up to a year to get seedlings. (Plant in fall.) Also, they don't like to be transplanted, so plant them in permanent positions in the garden.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/monkshood/growing-monkshood-plants.htm
https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/aconitum-napellus-monkshood-wolfsbane-05-13-2016.aspx