Angelica pubescens aka Pubescent Angelica

Angelica pubescens is a tall herb in the Apiaceae family. Gardeners may know it as downy angelica or Du Huo. Its native range covers central and southern Japan, plus Taiwan. It grows in damp places among hills and low mountains. It forms upright clumps and lives as a biennial or short-lived perennial. Some leaves may stay green through winter.

Garden plants reach about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall. Their spread is about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. The plant forms a rosette of leaves in its first year. Each leaf divides twice and can reach 3.3 feet [1 metre] long. The leaflets have a light coat of fine hairs. Each measures about 0.16–0.33 feet [0.05–0.1 metres] long. Flower stems rise in the second year, from late spring into summer. They carry broad umbels made up of many small white flowers. These large flower heads have a soft, fluffy look.

Grow this plant in deep, rich soil that holds moisture. The soil should drain well rather than stay waterlogged. It prefers loam but also grows in sand or clay. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Choose a sheltered spot in sun or partial shade. Its damp woodland habitat also suits planting near shaded garden edges. The RHS rates it H7 for cold hardiness. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. Its height and bold leaves suit beds and informal gardens. The RHS also suggests it for wildlife gardens.

Sow fresh seed in containers within a cold frame. Leave the seed uncovered, since it needs light to sprout. Move seedlings while small, as older plants dislike root disturbance. Cut down the spent flower stems in autumn or spring. Aphids and leaf miners may attack the plant. Slugs and snails can also cause damage. Powdery mildew is a further risk. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Plants For A Future lists cooked leaves as edible. It also records traditional medicinal uses for roots and rhizomes. These include uses for pain, inflammation, and rheumatic complaints. Such records do not establish that home treatments work or are safe. The same source warns that furocoumarins can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Contact may lead to dermatitis, so its edible use needs this caution.