Garden angelica Angelica archangelica
Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a biennial herb in the Apiaceae family, native to Northern Europe and Greenland. It grows 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) tall and 90 cm–1.3 m (35 in–4.3 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -34 °C (-29 °F). Space plants about 1 m (3.3 ft) apart.
Plan Garden angelica in your garden →
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Garden angelica at a glance
| Type | Biennial herb |
|---|---|
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 90 cm–1.3 m (35 in–4.3 ft) |
| Spacing | 1 m (3.3 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -34 °C (-29 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 28 °C (82 °F) |
| Flowering | about 60–107 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 365 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: stems (candied), leaves, seeds, roots |
| Native to | Northern Europe and Greenland |
| Common in gardens of | 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is Garden angelica toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: sap, roots
Furanocoumarins in the sap cause photodermatitis on sunlit skin; edible when prepared, but avoid look-alike hemlock relatives.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Garden angelica
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
Shared pests and diseases
- Carrot fly: Carrot fly also attacks parsnip, celery and parsley; mesh or barriers protect them all. Evidence B
Questions about Garden angelica
- How far apart should I plant Garden angelica?
- About 1 m (3.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 90 cm–1.3 m (35 in–4.3 ft).
- Does Garden angelica need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Garden angelica need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Garden angelica?
- It tolerates about -34 °C (-29 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4. As a biennial it is usually planted out after the last frost and flowers in its second year.
- When does Garden angelica flower?
- About 60–107 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks.
- Is Garden angelica poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Furanocoumarins in the sap cause photodermatitis on sunlit skin; edible when prepared, but avoid look-alike hemlock relatives.
- What grows well with Garden angelica?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Garden angelica. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Plants For A Future database, PFAF
Notes and assumptions
- Monocarpic: usually flowers in its second or third summer and then dies; self-sown seedlings continue the colony. Do not eat any wild umbellifer without certain identification.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Celery Apium graveolens
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Dill Anethum graveolens
- Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
- Celeriac Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Florence fennel Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum