Angelica
Angelica archangelica
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Pl. FB89 — Angelica archangelica
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IOverview
Overview
Angelica archangelica, commonly known as angelica, is a biennial herb native to the northern and central regions of Europe, including Albania, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and parts of Russia. This plant thrives in moist, light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils with a pH between 7 and 7.5, making it adaptable to various growing conditions. Known for its edible leaves, roots, seeds, shoots, and stems, angelica is valued both as an ornamental plant and for culinary uses. One distinctive feature of this plant is its tall stature, reaching up to 1.5 meters in height, with a light energy rating of 8 out of 10, indicating it requires moderate care and attention during cultivation.
Quick answers
What is Angelica?
Angelica archangelica, commonly known as angelica, is a biennial herb native to the northern and central regions of Europe, including Albania, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and parts of Russia.
What is Angelica used for?
Traditionally used for energy & focus. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Angelica
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Angelica appears in herbal sources around clarity and study-routine traditions, often as a tincture. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
2 drafts
Mixology suggestions
2 draftsEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Stress Relief
stresstincture
Historically used to soothe nervous tension.
Digestive Ease
digestiontea
Traditionally aids in digestion and soothes the stomach.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Angelica thrives in moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 7-7.5 and prefers light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) textures. It requires full sun to partial shade and is hardy in temperate regions from zones 4-8. Propagate by seed or division, as angelica is a biennial that grows up to 1.5 meters tall. Harvest leaves, roots, seeds, shoots, and stems for culinary use. SKIP
Light
8/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
4-8
Life cycle
Biennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
1.5 m tall
Soil pH
7–7.5
For first-time growers
How to grow Angelica for the first time
8steps
Angelica is a hardy, biennial herb that's easy for beginners to grow with the right care.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or young plants, a garden fork, compost, and a trowel.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring or late summer for best results.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a spot with moist, well-draining soil. Amend the soil with compost if needed.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1 cm deep or plant young seedlings at 30 cm intervals.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during dry spells.
- 6
Ongoing care
Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Remove any flowers to encourage more leaf growth.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead leaves and stems in late winter to maintain plant health and appearance.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting too close together, neglecting to remove flowers.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootSeedShootsStem
Edible uses: Condiment
Other uses:Essential OilFragrance
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
23 native · 3 introduced
Distribution
23 native · 3 introducedDistribution across2 continents· 23 native· 3 introduced
Europe16 regions
native (14)AlbaniaBelarusDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIcelandNetherlandsNorwayPolandRussiaSwedenUkraineUnited Kingdom
introduced (2)BelgiumBulgaria
Americas1 region
native (1)Greenland
Broader regions
native:Baltic States, Føroyar
introduced:Czechoslovakia
VIIIGarden companions
4 pairs
Garden companions
4 pairsPlant near these
These plants help — by repelling pests, fixing nitrogen, attracting pollinators, or sharing space well.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence herb guild pairing: overlapping bloom windows increase beneficial-insect habitat in medicinal herb beds.
Pot marigold
Calendula officinalis
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence herb guild pairing: overlapping bloom windows increase beneficial-insect habitat in medicinal herb beds.
Fagopyrum esculentum
Fagopyrum esculentum
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence herb guild pairing: overlapping bloom windows increase beneficial-insect habitat in medicinal herb beds.
White Clover
Trifolium repens
Living mulch
Lower-confidence herb guild pairing: low living mulches protect soil around taller perennial herbs when kept from crowding crowns.
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
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- Citation
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