Angelica archangelica L.

A plant which keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 2 m tall and spreads 1.5 m across. It has stout stems. They are long, thick and hollow and like celery. The leaves are large and have teeth around the edge. The leaves are made of several leaflets. The flowers are small and greenish-yellow. They are produced in clusters. They occur during the second year of growth.

A cool temperate plant. It needs well drained soils. The soil needs to be fertile. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

The stems and leaves are crystallised and used as sweets and to decorate cakes. Leaves can be used to make a herbal tea. The stems, roots and leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Oil from the roots and seeds is used to flavour liqueurs. The flowers can be eaten with fish.

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds need to be sown fresh.