Angelica-Korean

Description

Angelica-Korean, Angelica gigas
This flamboyant biennial to short-lived perennial grows a leafy rosette of foliage in its first season, staying low to the ground. The following year it pulls out all the stops as tall purple stems hold deep violet-purple umbels at eye level. Grows to about 2.5’ wide and 1.5’ tall in leaf, but its purple flower spikes can reach an impressive 5-6’ tall! Self-sows! Rich soil is a must. The 4-6″ flowers attract a fantastic array of pollinators, such as bees, wasps, turquoise-backed beetles, and more. Korean Angelica grows foliage the first season, then thrusts up an attention-getting floral stem the following summer; its heavy buds bursting open and revealing the large, rounded red-purple flowers. It looks best when planted against fine-textured grasses or other airy, see-through plants at the mid-to-back border. After blooming, decorative seed heads form but remove most to encourage a repeat show the following year. You can sow the seeds annually or allow them to drop and self-sow to renew your plantings. A top beneficial insect-attracting plant that provides pollen and nectar for numerous helpful insects, and the seeds attract birds.

Water Needs: Moderate
Exposure: Full sun or part shade
Height: 60-72 inches
Spacing: 18-24 inches

Additional information