Gardeners in Powys have been urged to avoid a poisonous flower which is coming into its flowering season.

One of the UK’s most poisonous plants, the Aconite flowers from late summer to early autumn and can cause a whole host of problems for anybody who ingests it.

Jamie’s Garden Services, which serves residents and businesses in Radnorshire near Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells and Rhayader, took to Facebook to warn plant lovers to be careful if they come into contact with the plant.

The garden service, which is run by Jamie Jones, said on Facebook: “A word of warning, do not touch or handle this plant without wearing gloves.”

The post explained that the plant, which is more commonly known as Wolfsbane, Monkhood and Devil’s Helmet, said the plant can cause “severe respiratory and cardiac problems”.

The post said: “This is a very poisonous plant. Aconitine, mesaconitine, by-aconitine and other alkaloids have potent cardiotoxins and neurotoxins that can be found in all parts of the Aconitum species, especially in the tubers and roots.

“The toxins can be absorbed through the skin and cause severe respiratory and cardiac problems.

“In folk law is commonly known to be used against the fantastical creatures, known as Werewolves. Though this isn’t just a mythical plant whose only purpose is to fight these creatures of the night, it also contains many other dark and deadly secrets.

“The Latin name Aconite comes from the Greek ?????t?? which means ‘without dust’ and ‘without struggle’. It was used as a poison for arrowheads when hunting wolves (hence wolfsbane) and, as it is so fast-acting, probably had them falling in the dust without a struggle.”

The flower, which looks slightly similar to Foxgloves plants and grows between three and five feet tall, has tall stems with dark green leaves and either blue, purple, white or yellow bell flowers.

Common signs of monkshood poisoning include: tingling; the tongue and mouth going numb; nausea with vomiting, breathing becoming harder and laboured; weak and irregular pulse or heart beat; and, cold and clammy skin.

As the poisoning gets more severe, those with internal poisoning will begin to have cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as symptoms like mania or confusion with multiple organ failure being likely.

The post added: “Don’t whatever you do, pick or handle this plant without gloves, especially by the root.

“Marked symptoms may appear almost immediately, usually not later than one hour, and “with large doses, death is almost instantaneous”. Death usually occurs within two to six hours in fatal poisoning - 20 to 40 ml of its toxin may prove fatal.

“Gardeners have been known to die from simply handling this plant.”