Garden Angelica is a robust biennial or short-lived perennial, herb from the carrot family. It has a strong musky odor and a warm aromatic sweet taste that has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It was once believed an archangel revealed the medicinal qualities of this plant to mankind hence the species name archangelica . It somewhat resembles a wild carrot with a long, spindle-shaped, thick, and fleshy purple colored root. Roots, leaves, seeds, and young stems have a flavor similar to licorice. Garden Angelica thrives in a moderately cool climate in part shade or the full sun of more northern climates and loves to grow near running water. The plant requires consistently moist soil; do not let it dry out between watering. Garden Angelica produces foliage in the first year and flowers in the second year then the plant dies after the seed ripens. Propagation can be done by seed or root cuttings in the second year. This plant has a similar appearance to some toxic plants such as Conium maculatum so verify identity before ingesting. It may cause sensitivity to sunlight and contact dermatitis.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong; Obovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The chartreuse lower leaves grow to 2-3 foot long which are divided into 2 or 3 finely toothed or serrated leaflets 3 inches in length. They clasp the base of the plant with somewhat purplish bases.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink; White
Flower value
Edible; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The small yellowish-white sometimes pinkish flowers make up semicircular, apical double umbels around 6" in diameter. They bloom in the summer and then produce oblong fruits with a pleasant scent.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit value
Edible; Fragrant
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Pale yellow, straw-colored oblong fruit with prominent ridges and pleasing fragrance.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Stout fluted bright green stems are hollow are sometimes tinged with purple and can reach as high as 7 feet tall.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Greenland, Iceland, Europe and Western Siberia, Himalayas
Distribution
Widely cultivated and naturalized in northern temperate regions
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
Roots, leaves, seeds, and young stems have a flavor similar to licorice. Seeds and distilled oils are widely used to flavor liqueurs and occasionally foods. Leaves may be used in salads, young stalks may be peeled and used like celery or candied, leaves and roots can be used for making tea.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Garden Angelica was believed to have medicinal and magical properties that counteract poisons and ward off evil. As a medicinal plant, it was considered to have 'angelic' healing powers for protection against contagions, purifying blood, and treatment of digestive disorders. Candied stalks are used for decoration on puddings and cakes. Essential oils may be used in perfumes, soaps, salves, and oils.