Part to full shade; fertile, moist soil; resembling a vine in habit, this plant sends up several slender arching stems to 5’ or more in length that like to lean on other plants for support; beautiful, unusual violet-ultramarine blue flowers resemble an ornate hood and are about 1” across; leaves are thick, deep green and cut into 3-5 lobes; a fine plant for gardens, pond and stream margins; blooms July-Sept. Zones 5-8; WV. ecotype.