A. atropurpurea

Description

Purple-stemmed angelica. Height 1.2-1.8m/4-6ft. The large umbrella-like flower head bears white flowers and the leaves are attractive and deeply cut.

Cultivation

Sow the seeds in drills during March and progressively thin the seedlings out until they are 15cm/6in apart. The following season transplant the year-old seedlings into soil to which compost and a slow-acting fertiliser has been added. True biennials, the plants die after producing flowers and seeds in their second year. However, it is possible to convert them into semi-perennials by removing the flowering heads as soon as they appear – they will then survive to the next year when the process can be repeated. Angelica cannot be perpetuated indefinitely, but it is possible to extend the life up to five years, as long as you do not allow a single flower head to develop and set seeds.

Propagation

Sow the seeds in drills during March and progressively thin the seedlings out until they are 15cm/6in apart. The following season transplant the year-old seedlings into soil to which compost and a slow-acting fertiliser has been added. True biennials, the plants die after producing flowers and seeds in their second year. However, it is possible to convert them into semi-perennials by removing the flowering heads as soon as they appear – they will then survive to the next year when the process can be repeated. Angelica cannot be perpetuated indefinitely, but it is possible to extend the life up to five years, as long as you do not allow a single flower head to develop and set seeds.

Pruning

N/A