You know that rare moment in gardening when a design comes together exactly as you envisioned? When the colors, textures, and heights you planned actually manifest, as if the plants themselves understood the assignment?
That happened for me this year with Angelica gigas.
I had long wanted to see this Korean angelica planted in a mass—something I had never seen before. The perfect spot was waiting: a bed beside a towering 9-foot Persicaria. The contrast of textures, the architectural presence, and the step-down effect in height made perfect sense in my head. Now, standing in front of this planting, fully matured and in full bloom, I can say with certainty: this plant delivers.
Angelica gigas: The Showstopper That Demands Attention
Back in April, we cleared the bed to make way for the Angelica gigas grouping. We had the right ingredients for success:
- Soil: Rich and well-drained—a must for these dramatic umbellifers.
- Light: Full morning sun followed by bright afternoon shade, an exposure that seems tailor-made for Angelica.
- Moisture: Consistent, but not excessive, keeping the soil in that Goldilocks zone—never too dry, never too soggy.
I had high hopes that every plant would rise and bloom in unison, creating the synchronized floral display I had imagined.
And in mid-July, the magic started happening.
The Phenomenon of Angelica Buds
One by one, each Angelica gigas began forming massive, almost otherworldly flower buds, perched 4-5 feet above the ground on thick, sturdy stems.
And, right on cue, the questions started.
“What is that plant?”
“Is it about to bloom?”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Margaret Roach, in her blog A Way To Garden, has written about this very moment—when Angelica gigas begins setting buds, and suddenly everyone notices. It’s like an unfolding spectacle, a prelude to something big.
I may be dating myself here, but this is the E.F. Hutton of the plant world. (For those who remember those 1980s commercials: “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”) Well, when Angelica gigas sets buds, people stop, stare, and ask questions.
And then, just last week, the entire mass burst into bloom.
The Blooming Event: A Feast for Bees and Humans Alike
If the buds turned heads, the flowers stopped people in their tracks.
Each enormous 8-inch-wide umbel opened into a rich dark purple dome, striking against the plant’s bold green foliage. It’s the kind of bloom that doesn’t just blend into the garden—it commands attention.
And it wasn’t just the people taking notice.
Suddenly, the air hummed with honeybees.
If you want to create a pollinator paradise, Angelica gigas is a guaranteed success. The flat-topped flowers provide an ideal landing pad for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. In a world where we’re constantly looking for ways to support pollinators, this plant is a nectar powerhouse.
The Lifecycle of Angelica gigas
Angelica gigas is not a long-lived perennial. In fact, it’s a monocarpic biennial or short-lived perennial, meaning each plant blooms once and then dies after setting seed.
This means that, come season’s end, all of our plants will likely complete their life cycle and fade away. But that’s not the end of the story.
Our next task? Seed collecting and dispersing.
We plan to scatter the seeds this fall, allowing them to settle naturally into the soil. With any luck, by next spring, new Angelica seedlings will begin popping up throughout the bed. We’ll let them establish themselves, then select the strongest ones to nurture and cultivate.
It will take another full season for these seedlings to mature into flowering plants, meaning the next grand display won’t happen until 2025. But that’s part of the allure. The cycle builds anticipation, giving visitors a reason to return, watching and waiting for the next spectacular bloom.
Expanding the Angelica Collection
Seeing Angelica gigas thrive in our coastal Maine climate has me thinking: why stop here?
There are many other Angelica species that deserve a place in the garden, each offering something unique:
- Angelica archangelica – A classic European variety with greenish-white flowers and a long history in herbal medicine.
- Angelica sylvestris – A slightly wilder, airy species with a graceful, naturalistic charm.
- Angelica taiwaniana – A lesser-known variety with intriguing, architectural blooms.
Given this year’s success, I can already tell: this is just the beginning of Angelica at CMBG.
Sometimes, a plant exceeds your expectations, proving itself to be even more spectacular than imagined. Angelica gigas is one of those plants.
It commands attention, draws people in, supports pollinators, and—just when it’s at its peak—leaves behind the promise of another stunning display in seasons to come.
And in the end, isn’t that the best kind of plant? The one that surprises you, captivates you, and keeps you wanting more?
Have you grown Angelica gigas? Did it cause a stir in your garden like it did in mine? I’d love to hear your experience.
– Rodney
More posts about groovy and exciting plants:
Photos: Wikipedia, Rodney Eason
