Although not commonly cultivated, Angelica will increase the variety of flavours in your herb garden. Angelica is a traditional biennial herb closely related to carrots and is a member of the parsley family. It is also known as ‘Wild Celery’.
Angelica has a pungent musky scent and sweet flavour that is recognizable in many popular types of liquor, including gin and vermouth. The next time you have a martini, savour the flavour, and remind yourself it comes from the Angelica root.
The candied stems were once a popular sweet and used to decorate cakes whilst the chopped leaves may be added to fruit salads, fish dishes and cottage cheese in small amounts.
Angelica root is used in digestive tonics to relieve colic and cramps. It is also used to ease spasms in bronchitis and asthma. An infusion of the leaves can be taken for indigestion.
Angelica is also fantastic as a natural pest controller. The large flower heads are highly attractive to beneficial insects that prey on pests in your garden. Bees are also attracted to the nectar rich flower heads.
Angelica is an impressive, large growing herb that can grow to a stunning 2 m tall with large green-white flower heads that stand tall above the foliage through summer. The umbrella-like flowers are particularly showy occurring after two years. Each spoke of the flower bears a dangling seed after the blooms are spent.
It prefers cool climates and a semi-shady to sunny location. If planted in an area with hot summers, a dappled shade location will provide protection for the heat sensitive plant. The plant is not drought tolerant and should not be allowed to dry out, and mulching will help to keep the roots cool and moist. In the sub tropics its acts like an annual, completing it life cycle within a year.
Angelica herb is easy to care for as long as it is in well-drained soil with proper light exposure. Watering the plant from the base will help to prevent fungal diseases and pruning at the end of the first year will promote flowering in the second.
Angelica is a short-lived perennial or bi-annual, but it will self-seed, easily so you can enjoy new plants popping up in the garden year after year.