Angelica is a genus of plants consisting of about sixty species with a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. Several are native to North America, including purple stem angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) pictured on the right, hairy angelica (A. venenosa), Lyall’s angelica (A. arguta), and small leaf angelica (A. pinnata). The first two are found in the eastern half of the US, Lyall’s in the west, and small leaf in the mountain states. There are also several nonnative species, A. archangelica, and A. gigas, that are cultivated as garden plants. Angelica belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae) and is related to parsley, coriander, caraway, dill, celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. Angelicas are tall biennials or perennials, depending on the species, and have hollow stems with divided leaves and large umbrella-like clusters of small white to green flowers up to eight inches across. The plant may take two or more years to flower but once it has, it dies. It produces abundant seed so will probably return on its own and is well worth the wait considering the large number of beneficial insects the plants attract. When planning to use angelicas to support beneficial insects choose the native species for best results.
Type: Biennial or perennial
Size: 3-9’ H x 2-4’ W
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil:Average, moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 4-7
Beneficial Insects Attracted: Parasitic wasps, minute pirate bugs, ladybugs, syrphid flies, tachinid flies, butterflies, bees