Angelica sinensis aka Chinese Angelica

Angelica sinensis is an herb in the Apiaceae family. It is perennial, which means it lives for years. Names include dang gui, dong quai and Chinese angelica. It comes from the temperate parts of northern and central China. Records list Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan. Wild plants grow in forests and on cool, damp high ground. These sites help explain its need for moist soil.

In gardens, it grows about 3.3 feet (1 metre) tall. It spreads about 2.3 feet (0.7 metres) wide. Flowers bloom from August to September. Each has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them. The plant is self-fertile: its own pollen can help form seeds. Seeds ripen from September to October, after the blooms end. Plants live for years with more success when gardeners stop seed set. This matters when growing it as a lasting garden plant.

Choose deep, rich soil that stays moist. The plant grows in sand, loam and clay. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline. Both dappled shade and full sun suit it. A woodland garden or shaded edge makes a good site. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. It also notes survival down to at least 23°F (−5°C). Yet PFAF warns that the plant has limited cold hardiness. Weigh these ratings with care when judging a local site.

Fresh seed gives the best chance of new plants. Sow it in a cold frame soon after it ripens. Seed soon loses its power to sprout. It needs light to sprout. You can sow in spring, but fewer seeds may grow. Move young plants to their own pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them in their final place the next spring. You can also sow fresh seed straight into its final site.

The root has a long history in Chinese herbal medicine. Past uses focus on problems with periods and other women's health issues. It has a sweet, pungent scent and also has uses in cooking. Yet PFAF gives no food-use rating and lists no established edible uses. Past use as medicine does not prove safety or health benefits. Furocoumarins can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. They can cause dermatitis, a form of skin rash. Reports of ill effects include bloating. They also include changes in when periods come or their flow. PFAF urges care with diabetes and acute viral infections. It also urges care with anticoagulant drugs, which reduce blood clotting. The plant has garden value in woods and along shaded edges. The source does not flag it as a weed.