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Angelica archangelica

garden angelica

Apiaceae

Northern and eastern Europe to Russia; Iceland and Greenland

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Fragrant (strong)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Angelica archangelica, garden angelica, is a stout, aromatic biennial or short-lived monocarpic herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae). In its first year it forms a rosette of large, divided leaves; in the second it sends up a hollow, ridged, often purple-flushed stem 39-98 inches (1-2.5 m) tall before flowering and dying. The bright green leaves are two to three times pinnately divided into broad, toothed leaflets, with the stalk bases swollen into conspicuous inflated sheaths that clasp the stem. Large rounded compound umbels 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) across carry many tiny greenish-white to cream flowers in early to mid summer, followed by pale, oblong, winged fruits. The whole plant is strongly aromatic, and the stems, leaf stalks, and seeds have long been used in cooking and flavouring, including candied stems and as a flavouring for liqueurs. All parts contain furanocoumarins, and contact between the sap and skin followed by sunlight can cause reddening and blistering in sensitive people. It grows in damp, fertile ground and dies after setting seed, though removing the flower stalks can carry the plant over for another year.

Native Range

Angelica archangelica is native to northern and eastern Europe, from Iceland, Greenland, and Scandinavia across to Russia and the Himalayas, growing wild in damp meadows, riverbanks, and mountain ravines. It has naturalised in parts of temperate North America and Britain.

Suggested Uses

Grown in herb gardens, damp borders, and wildlife or pollinator plantings as a tall structural accent, spaced about 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. The stems and leaf stalks are candied and the aromatic seeds and roots flavour liqueurs and confectionery.

How to Identify

Garden angelica is recognised by its tall hollow ridged stems to 39-98 inches (1-2.5 m) and very large, two- to three-times divided bright green leaves whose stalks broaden into swollen, balloon-like sheaths where they meet the stem. The dome-shaped greenish-white flower umbels are 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) across. Crushed foliage and roots have a strong musky, aromatic scent. The green, unspotted stems separate it from the similar but deadly poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which has purple-blotched stems and a foetid smell.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3'3" - 8'2"

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in the second year, in early to mid summer (June to August), when the plant produces its large compound umbels of small greenish-white flowers. The blooms draw many bees, hoverflies, and other insects to their open nectar. Seed ripens by late summer, after which the plant normally dies. Cutting the developing flower heads early can prevent seeding and occasionally lets the root survive for a further season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish-white to cream

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years (biennial)

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Angelica archangelica grows in full sun to part shade on deep, moist, fertile soil that does not dry out, matching its native damp meadows and stream banks. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, and the seed germinates most reliably when sown fresh in late summer, as viability falls quickly with storage. Plants form a leaf rosette the first year and flower the next, dying once seed sets unless the flower stems are removed. Self-sown seedlings appear readily around established plants. Contact of the cut sap with skin in sunlight can cause photodermatitis in sensitive people. It has few serious pests, though aphids and leaf miners may appear.

Pruning

Removing the flower stalks before seed forms can extend the plant life by a year and limits self-seeding. Faded umbels left in place scatter abundant seed and yield many volunteer seedlings. Dead stems are cut to the ground once the plant has finished its cycle.