# angelicas (*Angelica*)

Angelicas are tall, leafy plants that grow in damp places. They have pretty white flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making them a favorite in gardens.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands
- **Also known as:** Garden Angelica, Wild Celery

![angelicas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gewone_engwortel_R0012880_Plant.JPG&width=800)

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. TeunSpaans assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gewone_engwortel_R0012880_Plant.JPG)

## Appearance

The angelicas has tall, hollow, ridged stems, often purplish near the base. It features large, deeply divided leaves and distinctive umbrella-like clusters of tiny greenish-white to pale yellow flowers that form a striking dome.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Equisetopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Angelica

## Interesting facts

- Believe it or not, angelica is a cousin to carrots, parsley, and even dill!
- Its candied stems were once a very popular sweet treat, especially in Europe!
- People used to believe angelica could protect against evil spirits and bad luck.
- The roots of angelica can be used to flavor some special liqueurs and spirits.

## Special abilities

- **Towering Growth:** Angelicas can grow very tall and quickly to reach sunlight, giving them an advantage over smaller plants.
- **Aromatic Shield:** Angelicas has strongly scented leaves and stems that can help deter some animals from munching on them.
- **Pollinator Party Hub:** Angelicas produces large, flat-topped flower clusters to attract many different kinds of insect pollinators at once.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-250 cm
- **Spread:** 60-120 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits its abundant flower heads for nectar.
- **Depends on:** Old World Swallowtail (*Papilio machaon*) — Adult butterflies feed on its rich nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — May browse on its young, tender shoots.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify angelicas?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is angelicas?

100-250 cm

### How wide does angelicas spread?

60-120 cm

### How big are the flowers on angelicas?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does angelicas bloom?

Summer

### Is angelicas edible?

Yes

### Is angelicas toxic?

Mild

### What is angelicas's lifecycle?

Biennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Angelicas: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/angelicas)