A welcome plant in the perennial border, A. fischeri sends up striking upright spikes of lavender-blue flowers from late summer to early fall when few other blue flowers are in bloom. Each individual flower is shaped like a little helmet or hood, thus the common name Monkshood.

This species has particularly strong stems that will not require staking. The distinctive, deeply divided, dark green, glossy foliage provides interest when the plant is not in bloom.