code: 781
This compact form makes basal rosettes of divided leathery leaves
Family: Apiaceae
Common name: Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost, Wild Celery, Vossakvann angelica, and Norwegian angelica
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial Hardy biennial
Minimum Height: 60 cm
Maximum Height: 90 cm
This is the genuine, true wild “Norwegian Angelica”, collected from the shoreline in northern Norway, 200 miles inside the Arctic circle, where temperatures plunge to below minus 40C in the cold dark winters. This compact form makes basal rosettes of divided leathery leaves, above which appear in summer, stocky stems holding globular balls of greenish-white flowers. Later appear the very distinctive, spherical, congested heads of large fragrant seeds. It may be used either as a culinary herb or a striking garden plant!
Sowing advice:
For best results, sow seeds immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. However, we sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, and often wait for spring before emerging regardless of when they are sown. But spring sowing will obviously give them a full season of growth if successful germination occurs.
Information:
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Greenish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Fruit: Showy
Uses:
Angelica root, particularly A. archangelica, has some culinary uses. It’s sometimes used in the production of gin and other spirits, and the leaves can be candied to use as a garnish or decoration.However, it’s primarily used as an herbal remedy. It has a long history of use as a traditional medicine in Europe and Russia, where it grows wild.Similarly, A. sinensis root is used in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for women’s health purposes.
Health benefits:
In alternative medicine, angelica is used primarily for digestive complaints. Angelica’s bitter taste is thought to improve digestion. Angelica may contain substances that relax intestinal muscles which can help relieve mild cramps, bloating, and gasaccording to some alternative medicine proponents. Studies investigating these potential benefits is lacking. Most scientific studies related to angelica investigate angelica sinensis or angelica radix. One study, however, focused on angelica archangelica.
