Angelica dahurica seed | Bai Zhi
LATIN NAME: Angelica dahurica COMMON NAME: Bai Zhi
Botanical Profile
Bai zhi is native to China, Japan, Korea and eastern Russia, growing as a robust biennial or short-lived perennial with large, deeply divided compound leaves and thick, hollow stems, closely related to garden angelica but distinguished by regional distribution and the specific root traits valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Its broad umbels of small white flowers appear on tall flowering stems in its second year, following the wider Angelica genus’s typical biennial growth pattern.
Science & Conservation
Bai zhi root is among the most frequently used roots in the traditional Chinese herbal pharmacy, historically associated with formulas addressing headache, sinus congestion and certain skin conditions, and modern phytochemical research has identified a range of coumarin compounds in the root that continue to be studied for their pharmacological properties. This combination of deep traditional use and active modern research makes it one of the more thoroughly documented Angelica species in East Asian medicinal plant science.
Landscape & Practical Uses
Bai zhi root remains a significant ingredient in traditional Chinese herbal formulas today, and as with any medicinal herb, appropriate use should be discussed with a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider. The plant’s substantial size and handsome divided foliage also give it some ornamental interest for larger garden borders themed around Asian medicinal plants.
Growing From Seed
Fresh seed germinates most reliably, since viability declines in storage, and a period of cold, moist stratification helps if sowing must be delayed. Sow into a loose, humus-rich, moisture-retentive mix, and given this species’ substantial mature size, allow it generous space to develop over its first full growing season before flowering.
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