Angelica archangelica seed
LATIN NAME: ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA
COMMON NAME: Garden Angelica
In the damp meadows and the stream banks of the north, the garden angelica grows as a robust, upright, biennial herb with the very large, divided, bright-green leaves and the tall, hollow stems carrying the huge, rounded heads of small, greenish-white flowers in the summer, the flat, winged seeds following. It steadily establishes a rounded crown, eventually 5-10 metres tall. Give it full sun and deep, fertile ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The garden angelica appears in the studies of the old pot herbs of the north, its huge flower heads and its hollow stems keeping it in view in the work on the aromatic herbs of the monastery gardens and the flavouring plants of the northern kitchen. The research looks at the way the hollow stems carry the giant heads, the winged seeds ripen and scatter, and the seed biology of the short-lived, aromatic seeds.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the herb garden and the damp border, the garden angelica rises with the bold, architectural leaves and the giant, greenish-white heads that have flavoured the liqueurs and the candies of the north for centuries. The robust herb asks for the damp ground, and the plant makes the fine architectural herb, the flavouring plant and the plant of the moist, cold garden. It is a plant for the sunny or shaded, deep and moist place.
To grow the Garden Angelica from seed, sow the winged seeds on the surface of moist, gritty soil as soon as they are ripe.
Sow the winged seeds on the surface of moist, gritty soil as soon as they are ripe, and keep the young angelicas in the open, sunny spot. The giant heads open with the summer.
LATIN NAME: Angelica archangelica
COMMON NAME: Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost Plant
Garden angelica is a plant of myth and medicine, with a tall, statuesque presence and a long history of healing. The species develops an upright, columnar form, around sixty centimetres high. The whole plant is strongly aromatic, with a sweet, musky scent, and every part, from the root to the stem to the seeds, has been used for centuries in food, liqueur and medicine. It is a plant of grandeur, fragrance and legend.
Garden angelica belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae, and it is native to the cool regions of northern Europe, where it grows along riverbanks and in damp meadows. It was once believed to have been given by an angel to heal the plague, which is how it got its name, and it has been cultivated in gardens and monasteries for centuries.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing garden angelica from seed is easy and very rewarding, though the seed is best sown fresh, since it loses vigour quickly. The seeds germinate in cool, moist conditions, so sow them in late summer or autumn in pots of moist seed compost, cover them lightly, and leave them in a cool, shaded spot, or chill them in the fridge for a few weeks first. Germination can be slow and uneven, with seedlings appearing over several weeks, so be patient. Pot the seedlings on as they grow and plant them out in a sheltered, moist, partly shaded spot. In its first year it forms bold aromatic foliage, and in its second year it flowers, towering over the garden.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Garden angelica has a genuine place in both food and phytochemical research. The roots and seeds contain volatile oils and a group of compounds called coumarins and furanocoumarins, and researchers have studied their traditional medicinal uses, including as a digestive remedy, as well as the chemistry that gives the plant its distinctive scent and flavour. In food science, the stems are candied and used in confectionery and liqueurs, and the seed oil is used to flavour vermouth and other drinks, making the plant a subject of flavouring research. The plant has also been studied for its biology and its cultivation, since it is a classic herb of the northern garden. For a plant of such legend and usefulness, garden angelica has a rich and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, garden angelica is a generous plant. Its large umbels of flowers feed bees, hoverflies and other pollinators, and its bold, aromatic foliage gives structure and shelter in the damp, shaded garden.
Its economic value is real and historic. The stems are candied and used in confectionery and cake decoration, the seed oil flavours liqueurs and vermouth, and the roots and seeds are used in traditional medicine and herbal liqueurs. The plant is also grown as an ornamental for its tall, architectural form. For a grower, garden angelica is a multi-purpose herb, and for a gardener it brings fragrance, legend and towering, umbelled beauty.
Angelica Archangelica Angelica is an architectural and ornamental herb that reaches 200cm in height. Angelica thrives in rich well-drained soil, in a warm sheltered position. The leaves are used as a herb. The ideal time to sow the seed is August but can be sown in spring. Use single pots if possible and plant into the final location as soon as possible.