I've always been confused by the shade recommendation for monkshood. Mine are in an area that gets morning shade and sun most of the afternoon. They grew very tall this year because of all the early moisture, so have needed to be tied up somewhat.
Here's a pic where you can see them towering over everything. Frankly, if full sun would keep them shorter, I would prefer it.

That is beautiful north53!

SCG

SCG, north has my dream garden there!

See, you need that width of a bed to create that amazing layered effect that north has, so go wild with your 8-10 foot bed! :-)

It only looks good if you look along the length of it. Front on, not so great. Delphiniums and veronicastrum are finished now.
I'm trying to remember to take pictures to see the transitions to help decide on changes.

But what about Debbie's question. Do you grow monkshood in the shade?

The main problem for me with monkshood in the shade is that it takes so long to bloom, it's often snowed on. I've considered moving it to a sunnier spot just because of that.

Always been thinking of getting some monkshood for the shade. This thread will be a big help.

Ostrich, big beds require planning of which I know nothing about. I usually have 5 or 6 plants acquired before even figuring out where I would like them. Then I change my mind, then I plant it just for the sake of doing so. Way to much thinking for this redneck...I did I mention one also needs patience, I have read about it and hope to purchase some.

SCG

Northspruce, Is it possible you have the monkshood 'arendsii'? It is an Autumn bloomer.

Due to deer browsing I found that monkshood can be kept shorter by pinching. I am growing Aconitum x cammarum 'Eleanor', a bicolor monkshood, which has spikes of white flowers, each flower's hood outlined in pale blue-violet. It was transplanted to a mostly sunny area last fall. With two stems one flopped and one was upright.

Also grow a late fall blooming monkshood in part shade which has never needed staking.

Deer? Really? I thought monkshood was acutely poisonous.

Marie, yes one of mine is A. arendsii, and most years it buds around freeze-up and doesn't have chance to bloom at all. The other is a beautiful cutleaf variety which is a bit of a mystery to me, because I tried for a few years to grow monkshood from seed, but this plant showed up a few years after I'd stopped trying. Must have been a slow germinator. It's just starting to bloom now.

I, too, am curious about the deer comment. The reason I wanted to grow it was because it can tolerate part shade and, like foxglove, poisonous so deer will leave it alone...

Interesting...

SCG

I grow arendsii as well in part shade; it never flops with its very sturdy foliage but like Gillian says sometimes it doesn't get to bloom because it's so late. One unseasonably warm fall it bloomed into early Nov which certainly is unusual for our climate!
Monkshood is said to do well in sun as long as it's kept well watered. Unfortunately at present all my beds are part sun at best. So guess I will have to put up with the floppiness of that variety.
Also surprised to hear the deer would bother with it; experts advise to wear gloves when handling monkshood.

Speaking of late bloomers, I also have 2 cimicifugas that I've never seen bloom. Frost also kills the buds first. I should shovel prune them, I guess.

My cimicifuga bloomed last year, Marie - I don't know how long I've had it but that was the first time. Looks like it might bloom this year too.

My mom grows her bicolour Monkshood in full blazing sun although their roots are shaded by foreground plants. Never flops, always lots and lots of blooms late July to early August.

My bi-coloured monkhood is in shade and it doesn't bloom as plentifully as the solid purple one. I have it paired with heliopsis, which gets a bit floppy....I placed a wire lattice in front of it, which helps keep it off the ground. Both monkshoods are blooming right now.