🌿 Angelica
Angelica archangelica
herbs
biennial / short-lived perennial herb
Apiaceae

☀️ Sun
partial shade to full sun (needs cool roots , mulch heavily)
💧 Water
high (demands consistently moist soil, never let dry out)
🗺️ Zones
4, 9
🧪 Soil pH
5.5, 7.0
🪴 Soil Type
rich, deep, moist loam to clay; thrives in damp soil
🚿 Drainage
moist to wet (naturally grows along streams and in damp meadows)
📏 Spacing
24, 36 inches
📐 Height
48, 96 inches (can reach 8 feet when flowering)
⏱️ Maturity
730 days (biennial , flowers and sets seed in second year, then usually dies)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (6)
Both are tall, moisture-loving flowering herbs that attract pollinators; combined bloom creates powerful pollinator habitat.
Both are large, moisture-loving, nutrient-accumulating herbs; comfrey mulch keeps angelica's roots cool and moist.
Both are large, moisture-loving perennials for damp garden zones; their root zones occupy different depths.
Both thrive in damp, rich soil; mint's groundcover habit keeps angelica roots cool while angelica provides protective height.
Both prefer rich, moist soil; angelica attracts massive numbers of pollinators and predatory wasps beneficial for raspberry fruit set.
Angelica naturally grows alongside willows in damp meadows; willow's roots manage soil moisture and provide dappled shade.
⚠️ Keep Apart (4)
Angelica attracts carrot flies that will devastate nearby carrots; both host the same diseases including root rot in damp conditions.
Both are large umbellifers competing for identical resources (space, light, insect services); dill's shorter lifecycle conflicts with angelica's two-year growth.
Fundamental cultural mismatch: lavender demands dry, lean soil while angelica requires constant moisture and rich soil.
Sage prefers hot, dry, lean conditions and will rot in the moist soil angelica requires.
📝 Growing Notes
Massive plant , give it space. Dies after setting seed in second year, but often self-seeds. Requires deep, rich, constantly moist soil. Mulch heavily to keep roots cool , naturally a stream-bank plant. Attracts huge numbers of beneficial insects when flowering , umbels can be 6 inches across. Seeds must be fresh for good germination (lose viability quickly). All parts are highly aromatic with a musky, celery-like scent. Protective dome flower clusters are architectural showstoppers.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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