Angelica pubescens Seeds | Du Huo
LATIN NAME: Angelica pubescens
COMMON NAME: Du Huo
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Du Huo, Angelica pubescens is a noteworthy species. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. Few species give back so generously for so little effort.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the Angelica group, Angelica pubescens draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. It remains a frequently researched subject bridging classical Chinese herbal formulary and contemporary pharmacological investigation into pain and inflammation. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Du Huo has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Its substantial size and handsome divided foliage also give it modest ornamental interest for shaded woodland gardens themed around Asian medicinal plants. Beyond the establishment year, its needs are simple and few.
Du Huo, pubescent angelica root, is the classical Chinese herb for wind-damp pain of the lower body, a fixture of joint formulas, with coumarins studied for anti-inflammatory effects.
Growing from Seed
Du Huo grows readily from seed. Fresh seed is best, since Angelica seed generally loses viability quickly in storage, and a period of cold, moist stratification helps if sowing must be delayed. Sow into a loose, humus-rich, moisture-retentive mix in a partly shaded position, reflecting this species’ preference for cool, damp mountain woodland conditions. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in bright light with steady moisture. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Du Huo is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Keep the sowing evenly moist at the start — that is the one real requirement.
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