Wild Angelica.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Biennial or short lived perennial

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

2 to 3 meters

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist, as this plant naturally prefers damp conditions. Watch for wilting leaves, which signal it needs more water, and keep an eye out for aphids on the flower heads. It is a vigorous grower, so give it plenty of space to spread its foliage.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Cut back dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.

Repotting

Repot if the plant becomes rootbound, though it prefers to stay in the ground.

Soil

Moist, fertile, well-draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-20 to 25°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

The sap can cause phytophotodermatitis, leading to skin irritation or blistering when exposed to sunlight.

Pets

This plant can cause skin irritation or digestive upset if ingested by cats or dogs.

Children

The stems are hollow and look like straws, which may tempt children to use them as play items, risking sap contact.

Contact allergens

Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation or rashes when exposed to UV light.

Airborne allergens

The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Edibility

Do not consume unless you are an expert, as it is easily confused with highly toxic members of the Apiaceae family like poison hemlock.

How to identify it

• Tall, hollow, purple tinged stems
• Large, compound, serrated leaves
• Broad, white or pinkish flower umbels
• Distinctive, aromatic foliage when crushed

Height

1 to 2m

Spread

0.6 to 1m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, pale pink, 5 to 15cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Leaf MinersCommon
• Powdery MildewUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• RustUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Group this plant with other moisture loving species to ensure the soil remains cool and damp during the summer.

Grows well with

• Meadowsweet · They share a love for damp soil conditions.
• Purple Loosestrife · They create a beautiful, naturalistic look in wet garden areas.

Similar species

• Garden Angelica · It is a larger, more commonly cultivated relative.
• Cow Parsnip · It has a similar growth habit and preference for damp habitats.

Science

Family

Apiaceae

Genus

Angelica

Order

Apiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe and parts of Asia.

Conservation

It is common and widespread throughout its native range.

It naturally colonizes damp meadows, woodland edges, and riverbanks where it can access consistent moisture.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, larval host plant

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Uses

pollinator garden, wildlife habitat, architectural plant

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a perennial?

It is technically a short lived biennial or monocarpic perennial.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will grow in full sun if the soil stays moist.

Where the name comes from

The name Angelica refers to the supposed medicinal properties of the plant, while sylvestris means of the woods or wild.

Good to know

• It is often called wild angelica to distinguish it from the garden angelica.
• The plant thrives in damp, marshy ground where other plants struggle.
• It is a magnet for beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs