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Angelica Plant: How to Grow This Aromatic Medicinal Herb

Angelica archangelica flower stalk with green buds and foamy flower heads.

Angelica in full “heavenly” bloom, with its foamy flower heads rising above the garden. 

Photo Credit
Kabar
Botanical Name
Angelica spp.
Plant Type
Perennial Flowers
Herbs
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Yellow
White
Green
Pink
Purple
Hardiness Zone
5
6
7
8
Special Features
Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies

A tall, moisture-loving herb grown for its culinary, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly qualities.

Written By: Lauren Landers Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

Angelica may have a heavenly look with its foamy flowers and purplish stems, but you don’t need divine intervention to keep it happy in the garden! Not only is this down‑to‑earth, moisture‑loving herb popular with pollinators, but it’s also cold-hardy, deer and rabbit-resistant, and perfectly suited to rain gardens and other damp spots.

Whether you want to grow angelica as an edible herb, a medicinal plant, a pollinator favorite, or purely for its ornamental drama, here are all the growing and design tips I’ve learned through years of keeping it in my garden—plus propagation tricks, fun lore, and more.

About Angelica Plants

There are around 90 species of angelica plants, most native to cold and temperate regions of Scandinavia, Russia, Greenland, and Iceland. North America has a few native species as well. Like carrots, Queen Anne’s lace, and parsley, angelica belongs to the Umbellifer or Apiaceae family and is most easily recognized by its large, foamy, domed flowerheads that bloom in summer and attract pollinators of all sorts.

Close-up of Angelica archangelica showing domed, foamy flowerheads and green buds.
Angelica’s globe‑shaped umbels draw in pollinators with their airy, foamy blooms. Credit: IDVideo

Depending on the species, angelica can be a biennial or a short‑lived perennial. Most have a tall, structural look, with greenish‑purple stems that reach 1 to 6 feet high and large, serrated, slightly feathery leaves.

Although many gardeners grow angelica purely as an ornamental, some species are edible and have long been used as medicinal plants. Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) is the best‑known edible type, and nearly every part of the plant can be used. The young shoots, roots, and leaves can flavor salads, soups, stews, sautés, teas, and cocktails—and even the seeds can stand in for fennel. Angelica does taste a bit like licorice, though, so the flavor may not be for everyone.

In the wild, angelica grows in wet meadows, marshes, and other damp areas. In the garden, it thrives in rain gardens, poorly draining spots, and consistently moist soil. Tall species make excellent accent or backdrop plants in pollinator habitats and cottage gardens, while smaller types work well along borders.

White Angelica archangelica flowerheads with domed umbels growing along a riverbank
White angelica umbels glowing above the riverbank, soft against the summer greens. Credit: Photodigitaal.nl

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Planting

Like closely related carrots, angelica plants have a long tap root, which makes them hard to transplant and difficult to grow in pots. For this reason, angelica plants are usually grown from seed, and it’s best to directly sow those seeds where you want your plants to grow!  

When to Plant Angelica

Most types of angelica are native to cold regions and germinate best if the seeds are exposed to a period of cold, moist weather before spring. You can accomplish this by directly sowing angelica seeds in your garden in the fall, or by cold-stratifying the seeds in your fridge for 4 to 6 weeks before planting them indoors in pots.

How to Plant Angelica

  • For fall planting: Prep your planting area by removing weeds and blending some compost into the soil before the ground freezes. Once the ground is frozen solid, evenly scatter angelica seeds over the soil and don’t cover them up as they need light to germinate. When spring returns, begin watering the angelica patch and thin out the seedlings when they’re a few inches tall, spacing the remaining plants about 1 foot apart.
  • For spring planting: Cold stratify angelica seeds in your fridge, then surface-sow pairs in pots filled with damp seed-starting mix. Water regularly, keep the seeds in bright light, thin out the weakest seedlings when true leaves form, and harden off and transplant the seedlings outdoors when soil temperatures are above 50°F and the seedlings are 4 inches tall or taller.

Growing

Tall angelica species can be grown towards the rear of garden beds to add height and interest to mixed plantings, while smaller varieties can be tucked in just about anywhere. 

Several tall Angelica archangelica plants in bloom, with domed flowerheads rising above smaller flowers and green garden plants.
Mature garden angelica rising well above the border, showing off its tall, structural form. Credit: Irenestev

For healthy plants, make sure to space angelica at least 1 to 3 feet apart and thin out patches as your plants grow to ensure your plants continue to receive plenty of light and air. 

Taller types of angelica may also need staking as they mature; however, you may be able to work around this by growing your plants near a garden wall or fence that provides shelter from strong winds.

Most types of angelica are biennials that only flower in their second year and then go to seed and die. These plants are excellent at self-sowing, though, and will usually produce lots of new baby plants when they go to seed as long as you don’t deadhead the old flowers!

Water
In the wild, angelica naturally grows in damp areas and it needs consistent water in the garden. These plants are happiest if you grow them in an area that stays naturally moist. If not, you’ll need to water them enough so that the soil stays damp and never dries out completely.
Light
Angelica plants grow best in full sun, but they can tolerate light shade too. In hot areas, plant angelica in a spot that receives light afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch and keep the soil damp longer. If your plants get leggy or stop flowering, they may need more light.
Humidity
Water-loving angelica naturally prefers slightly humid conditions, but will tolerate a range of humidity levels.
Temperature
These plants are native to cold regions and are unphased by chilly weather. They will need more watering during hot, dry spells though. You may also want to shield your plants with shade cloth during extreme heat if they look like they’re struggling.
Fertilizer
Adding compost to your planting site before sowing angelica seeds will set your plants up for success. These plants rarely need fertilizer, but you can feed them with an annual application of compost or an all-purpose organic fertilizer if desired.
Toxicity
Angelica is slightly toxic and should only be eaten in moderation. It can also cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, so you may want to wear gloves when handling these plants.

It’s important to note that angelica closely resembles severely highly toxic plants, like water hemlock and hogweed. Make sure that you’re 100% certain about plant ID before harvesting "angelica" from the wild!

Types

Angelica plants range in size, flower color, and bloom time, but some of the most popular varieties for gardens include:

  • Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica): The most common type of angelica used in cooking and traditional medicine, garden angelica is native to Europe and grows to 3 to 6 feet tall.
  • American angelica (A. atropurpurea): For a native option, look no further than American angelica. These plants are native to the Eastern and Central United States and produce greenish-white flowers atop towering purple stalks.
Garden Angelica atropurpurea with greenish‑white flowerheads on tall purple stems
American angelica, a native species, with its pale flowerheads rising above deep purple stalks. Credit: Kazakov Maksim
  • Purple Angelica (Angelica gigas): Also known as Korean angelica, this showy plant is native to Asia and produces striking purple flowers and stems that can reach up to 6 feet in height.
Angelica gigas in full bloom, showing off its rich purple flowerheads and bold structure.
The dramatic purple umbels of Angelica gigas make it a standout in any garden. Credit: LapaiIrKrapai

Harvesting

Garden angelica stalks, leaves, and roots can be harvested when the plants are mature, while the edible seeds should be allowed to dry and turn brown before picking. For best taste and flavor, harvest when the stalks and leaves are still young and tender. When peeled, the young stalks can be used like celery, while the leaves and roots can be used in salads or infused into teas.

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Pests/Diseases

Angelica plants are unbothered by waterlogged soil, which can be a death sentence for more sensitive plants. But Angelica can be plagued by a few issues!

Propagation

Leaving angelica flowers in place in the fall should allow these plants to naturally self-sow without you needing to lift a finger. However, you can deliberately propagate angelica by collecting the seed by hand!

  • Wait for angelica seeds to dry out and turn brown on the plant.
  • Shake the seeds into a container to collect them, and then plant the seeds in a prepared planting spot in late fall.
  • If you’d like to overwinter the angelica seeds before planting, shake them off the dried flowerhead, allow the seeds to dry for a few days on a tray, and then store them in labeled and dated paper envelopes until spring. 

Seasonal Care
Many types of angelica, including garden angelica, are biennial plants that flower, go to seed, and die in their second year. Deadheading flowers before they mature into seeds may prolong the life of your plant by a year or two, but it will also prevent self-sowing. If you let angelica plants naturally drop their seeds, they will usually spread in patches and may form small colonies of plants over time.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Angelica is known by several other names, including ground ash, archangel, and masterwort.
  • According to lore, angelica was believed to have magical abilities that could ward against evil and poisons.
  • Traditionally, these plants were used to heal digestive and blood disorders and it’s said that their healing abilities were first revealed by an archangel.

Herbs
About The Author
Lauren Landers

Lauren Landers

Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

Lauren is a gardener, writer, and public speaker with over a decade of experience helping others learn about gardening, homesteading, and sustainable living.She combines years of practical gardening a...
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