Angelica atropurpurea
purple-stemmed angelica
Overview
Angelica atropurpurea is a stout biennial or short-lived perennial of wet ground, reaching 3-9 ft (0.9-2.7 m) tall in its flowering year. The smooth, hollow stems are 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) thick and deep purple to purple-red, branching in the upper part. Large compound leaves divide two or three times into toothed leaflets 1-3 in (2.5-8 cm) long, with swollen leaf bases that sheathe the stem. In its second or later year the plant sends up domed compound umbels 4-10 in (10-25 cm) across, packed with small greenish-white flowers, from June to July. Flat, ribbed, winged seeds follow, after which the flowering plant dies. It grows in swamps, wet meadows, streambanks, and marshes on rich, saturated soil. All parts contain furanocoumarins, and contact with the sap followed by sunlight can cause skin blistering. The hollow purple stems and wetland setting help identify it, though it resembles the deadly water hemlocks of the same family that share its wet sites. Because most plants die after flowering, a stand depends on yearly reseeding.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from Labrador and Quebec west to Minnesota and south to Maryland, West Virginia, and the mountains of the Southeast. It grows in swamps, wet meadows, fens, and along streams and marshes.Suggested Uses
Grown in rain gardens, pond and stream edges, and wet wildflower meadows as a tall structural plant. Planted in pollinator and native gardens, where the umbels feed many short-tongued insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 9'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Blooms from June to July in its flowering year, bearing rounded compound umbels of greenish-white flowers. The umbels draw many small bees, flies, and beetles. Winged seeds ripen by late summer, and the plant then dies.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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