By skyforbes Garden Angelica is a robust biennial or short-lived perennial, herb from the carrot family. It has a strong musky odor and a warm aromatic sweet taste that has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It was once believed an archangel revealed the medicinal qualities of this plant to mankind hence the species name archangelica.
It somewhat resembles a wild carrot with a long, spindle-shaped, thick, and fleshy purple colored root. Roots, leaves, seeds, and young stems have a flavor similar to licorice. Garden Angelica thrives in a moderately cool climate in part shade or the full sun of more northern climates and loves to grow near running water. The plant requires consistently moist soil; do not let it dry out between watering.
Garden Angelica produces foliage in the first year and flowers in the second year then the plant dies after the seed ripens. Propagation can be done by seed or root cuttings in the second year.
This plant has a similar appearance to some toxic plants such as Conium maculatum so verify identity before ingesting. It may cause sensitivity to sunlight and contact dermatitis.