Growing and Using the Herb Angelica

Angelica is not a single herb but a family of over 50 varieties. The one most often grown in gardens, however, is Angelica archangelica.

While not quite as tall as lovage, angelica is still an herb garden giant, often growing to six feet tall. The fleshy tap root, which goes quite deep, making transplantation difficult, can weigh up to three pounds. The flower heads on a well grown, happy plant can be almost as big as your head.

While use of the plant predates Christianity- pagans used the plant as protection against evil enchantments- the name is thought to have been based on the fact that the plant blooms around Michael the Archangel's day. The use of angelica for protection continued at least through the middle ages.

Angelica is considered a biennial or a short lived perennial. It does not bloom the first year, and once it blooms and makes seed, it dies. That death can be put off a couple of years if the flowers are cut off before they can bloom, although the plant rarely lives past four years no matter what. The flowers are impressive things and it's a shame to miss them, so I vote for letting the plant do its thing. They are easy to start- use fresh seed and just press them into the soil surface, leaving them exposed to light, and they usually have a very high germination rate. Ideally the seeds are started in the same summer as the seeds form- they don't keep well. Don't bother trying to divide the plant; they resent it. Hardy to zone 4, this plant is a tough one.