Angelica archangelica
Angelica archangelica
Common names: Angelica
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Spacing
- 80 cm, rows 100 cm
- Lifespan
- Biennial
- Sowing
- Mar, Apr, Aug, Sep
- Harvest
- Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −20 °C
- Water need
- High
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public Domain · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Angelica archangelica, commonly known as Engelwurz, is a biennial to perennial herb of the Apiaceae family. In its second year it can reach up to 2 m tall, with hollow, sturdy stems and large, globular greenish umbels. It prefers semi‑shaded, moist sites such as stream banks or the shade of larger shrubs, and is an excellent forage plant for bees when it flowers in summer. The young stems are traditionally candied or used in teas. The plant is considered mildly toxic; its sap can make the skin photosensitive and cause irritation under sunlight, so gloves are recommended when handling. It should not be confused with the more irritating giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). After flowering and seed set the individual plant usually dies, so it is advisable to re‑establish new seedlings each year.
Care instructions
Plant Angelica archangelica in a semi‑shaded spot with humus‑rich, consistently moist soil, preferably near hedges or shrubs. Water regularly during dry periods, as drought causes the large leaves to wilt quickly. A mulch layer of leaf litter or grass clippings helps retain soil moisture and suppresses competing weeds. To keep the plant perennial, cut back the flower umbels after they have bloomed; otherwise the plant will flower once and then die. Wear gloves when cutting, as the sap can make the skin photosensitive. Harvest the young stems in the second year before flowering for the most tender texture.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–Apr, Aug–Sep
HarvestJun–Jul, Sep–Oct
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 2 °C, ideally 10 °C
- Days to sprout
- 21 to 90 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, loamy
Angelica likes it moist to fresh and nutrient-rich, preferably at the edges of streams or ditches and in deeper, humus-rich soils. It tolerates waterlogging better than drought, because its strong taproot is always seeking moisture. A loamy, humus-rich garden soil with good water-holding capacity suits its natural habitat best.
Feeding
Heavy feeder
Months
Apr–Jun
In spring, give angelica a portion of mature compost or well-rotted manure before it starts into growth. Over summer it enjoys nettle feed or a mulch layer of grass clippings, which keeps the soil moist and slowly releases nutrients. As it grows vigorously, it thanks you for a second small dose of compost in early summer with lusher foliage.
Overwintering
Angelica is biennial to perennial and gets through the winter outdoors without problems in our latitudes. A mulch layer of leaves or straw additionally protects the root from severe frost, but is usually not strictly necessary. After flowering in the second or third year the plant dies, so it is worthwhile to ensure regular new plants by self-seeding.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
Angelica succeeds most reliably from fresh seed, because viability drops quickly. Sow straight after harvest in late summer or early autumn, as the seeds need a cold stimulus to germinate. Young plants that are not yet flowering can also be carefully divided in spring, if you separate an offset with its own root base. Keep the seed bed evenly moist until the first seed leaves show.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
Umbellifers and alliums confuse each other's pests (carrot fly, onion fly).
For example GarlicOnionLeekChivesWild daffodilRocambole and 12 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
daisy family (Asteraceae)
Calendula and Tagetes next to carrots keep the carrot fly away with their scent.
For example Head lettuceFrench marigoldCalendulaSunflowerButterhead lettuceCommon coneflower and 73 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
legume family (Fabaceae)
Peas and beans provide carrot and celery with nitrogen and grow as shallow-rooted plants without competition next to each other.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Angelica archangelica yourself
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