Angelica ursina

Angelica ursina is a perennial in the Apiaceae family. Its native range runs from Russia’s Far East into Japan. Kew places it in northern and north-central Japan. Plants For A Future lists Sakhalin, Kamchatka, and the southern Kuril Islands. It also lists Hokkaido and northern Honshu in Japan. This is a plant of temperate regions and damp habitats. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future gives its height as about 10 feet [3 metres]. That makes it a tall plant for a garden setting. The supplied species records give no mature width. They also lack details about its stems, leaf shape, and fruit. Its flowers have both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them, and the plant can also set seed through self-fertilisation. The evidence gives no flowering months for this species.

The species account says it grows in sun or partial shade. It prefers moist soil and accepts sand, loam, or clay. Its stated pH range covers mildly acid through mildly alkaline soils. Plants For A Future places it in woodland gardens and shaded edges. These settings fit the damp habitats reported within its native range. The source calls it frost tolerant but gives no hardiness zone. Its cultivation notes admit that British hardiness remains uncertain. Those notes draw on the genus rather than confirmed species trials.

Leaves and shoots are the recorded edible parts. They may be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be dried and stored for later use. Plants For A Future gives its food value two out of five. It records no known medicinal uses or other uses. Its safety note concerns the whole genus, not this species alone. That does not establish a species-specific safety profile or pet safety. The evidence also gives no species-specific pest or disease details.

Seed offers a way to raise new plants. Sow it fresh, as it loses viability within a short time. A cold frame is one suggested place to sow it. Seeds need light to germinate. Spring sowing is possible, but fewer seeds may germinate. Move seedlings into separate pots once they are large enough. Keep them in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them in their final sites the next spring. Fresh seed may also be sown straight into its final site.