Angelica polymorpha aka Polymorphic Angelica

Angelica polymorpha belongs to the Apiaceae family. This perennial lives for more than two years. Its home range lies in temperate East Asia. Records place it in China, Korea, and Japan. In Japan, it grows on Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. The sources give no width for a full-grown plant. They give no detailed account of its leaves.

This species grows in damp places in the mountains. Records place it in central and southern Japan. In China, it grows near streams and in woods. It also grows among damp grasses there. Chinese records give heights of 3,280–4,920 feet [1,000–1,500 metres] above sea level. These sites show its link with moist ground. PFAF lists woodland gardens and shaded edges as places to grow it.

Flowers bloom from August to September. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between blooms. The plant can also set seed with its own pollen. Seeds ripen from September to October, after the blooms. The species account gives no flower colour or fruit shape. PFAF says to sow fresh seed. It soon loses its power to sprout. Seeds need light to sprout. You can sow in spring, but fewer seeds may sprout. Young plants can spend their first winter in a cold frame.

PFAF lists moist soil with sun or part shade. It lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. The stated pH range runs from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Its wider growing notes call for deep, rich soil. Those notes draw on the genus, not proven species trials. PFAF says this plant can stand frost. Yet little is known about its hardiness in Britain. The evidence gives no firm hardiness zone.

Records list cooked leaves as food. PFAF gives modest ratings for food and use as medicine. It lists use for period problems and trouble passing stools. It also notes use for other complaints. Reported effects include passing more urine and effects on womb contractions. These records do not prove that home treatment is safe. PFAF warns that all plants in this genus contain furocoumarins. These compounds can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. They can also cause dermatitis, a form of skin inflammation. The source reports no weed potential. It gives no pest or disease account for this species.