Plant · P-613

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Angelica is a very large, short-lived umbellifer grown for its candied stem and aromatic root - the thick young stalks are peeled and boiled into the green candied angelica of confectionery, and the seed flavors liqueurs like Chartreuse and vermouth. Its root is a traditional remedy for indigestion, chronic bronchitis and poor peripheral circulation, and its fruit is an approved remedy for fevers, colds and urinary tract infections. Its huge flower umbels are worked by bees and hoverflies, whose larvae prey on aphids, making it a strong draw for beneficial insects wherever it is allowed to flower. It is biennial and dies after setting seed, but deadheading keeps it going as a standing clump instead - handle the sap with care, though, since it raises skin sensitivity to sunlight and can cause dermatitis.