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Angelica sylvestris

wild angelica

Apiaceae Europe and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Angelica sylvestris is a biennial or short-lived perennial in the carrot family, reaching 3-8 feet (90-250 cm) in flower. The erect stems are hollow, ridged, and frequently flushed purple, rising from a stout taproot. Leaves are two- to three-pinnate, triangular in outline, and up to 24 inches (60 cm) long, with toothed oval leaflets and inflated sheathing bases that clasp the stem. Flowers are carried in domed compound umbels 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) across, each composed of 15-40 rays bearing many small white to pale-pink blooms from July to September. The flattened, broadly winged fruits ripen from late summer into autumn. A. sylvestris grows in damp woodland, wet meadows, fens, and stream margins across Europe and western Asia. It supports a wide range of short-tongued insects, including hoverflies and beetles. The plant spreads only by seed and can self-sow freely on moist ground, which may crowd smaller neighbours. All parts carry a mild celery-like scent when crushed.

Native Range

Angelica sylvestris is native across most of Europe and into western Asia, from Ireland and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to Siberia and the Caucasus. It occupies damp lowland and upland habitats throughout this range.

Suggested Uses

Used in damp wildlife and pollinator borders, rain gardens, and the margins of ponds and streams. It suits naturalistic and bog plantings where soil stays moist. The umbels are also cut for fresh and dried arrangements.

How to Identify

Look for hollow, purple-tinged stems 3-8 feet (90-250 cm) tall topped by domed compound umbels of white to pink flowers. The triangular leaves are two- to three-pinnate with inflated, sac-like sheaths where the leaf stalks meet the stem. Unlike Angelica archangelica, which has greenish flowers and a sweeter aroma, A. sylvestris has white-to-pink umbels and a fainter scent. The flattened, winged fruits separate it from hemlock relatives with rounded ridged seeds.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 8'2"

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

pink

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

Flowering runs from July to September, peaking in midsummer. Each plant carries several domed umbels that open over a period of weeks. After flowering, the umbels hold flattened winged seeds that ripen through autumn before the biennial plants set seed and decline.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale pink

Foliage Description

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 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Angelica sylvestris in consistently moist to wet soil in full sun or partial shade. It tolerates a range of soil types, including clay and loam, as long as moisture is retained through the growing season. Plants are hardy to roughly USDA zone 4 and need no winter protection within their range. As a biennial or short-lived perennial, it forms a leaf rosette in the first year and flowers in the second, then usually dies after setting seed. Letting some seed heads mature maintains a self-sustaining colony, while removing them limits spread. No routine feeding is required on moderately fertile ground.

Pruning

Cut spent flower stems to the base after seeding to limit self-sowing, or leave them standing for seed and winter structure. Clear dead foliage at the end of the season. No formative pruning is needed.

Pruning Schedule

fall