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Annual BiennialHerbaceous Perennial

Angelica purpurascens

purple angelica

A robust biennial or short-lived perennial about 1.8-2m tall, with mid-green glaucous stems and bold textural leaves, that are much divided and composed of diamond-shaped leaflets, and branched, glaucous stems bearing umbels to 12-15 cm across of light acid-green flowers in late summer and early autumn

Synonyms

Xanthogalum purpurascens

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus: Angelica are large biennials or herbaceous perennials, some monocarpic, with pinnately or palmately divided leaves and small white or purple flowers in large umbels
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Tureky, Caucasus, Iran

How to grow

Cultivation

The ideal position is a moist, loamy soil in full sun or partial shade but it can tolerate drier conditions if mulched

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a cold frame with good light, as soon as ripe. Exposure to light is required for germination. Move seedlings when young as older plants resent disturbance

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, leaf miners and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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