Angelica

Garden angelica is a biennial plant from the Apiaceae family. During its first year it only grows leaves, but during its second year its fluted stem can reach a height of two meters (or six feet).

Angelica archangelica grows wild in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, mostly in the northern parts of the countries. It is cultivated in France, mainly in the Marais Poitevin, a marsh region close to Niort in the départment Deux-Sèvres. It also grows in certain regions in Germany like the Harz mountains.

Location
Choose a sight that has light shade. If the plant is positioned in a full-sun site it will benefit from a mulch.

Soil
Deep and moist soil is ideal.

Sowing
Allow plants to self-seed of sow fresh in early autumn. Take care when buying seeds as germination rates fall dramatically after three months of storage.

Aftercare
Seedlings should be transplanted in spring before the taproot becomes established. Leave a square metre (square yard) between plants.

Harvesting
Cut stems before midsummer for crystallizing. Harvest leaves before flowering. Collect ripe seed in late summer. Dug up roots in autumn of the first year.

Preserving
Dry leaves and roots. Stems can be crystallized.