Angelica sylvestris 'Ebony' (Vicar's mead)

Angelica sylvestris 'Purpurea'

Height:
Up to 1m.
Suitable for:
Any well drained but moisture retentive soil with sun.
Summary:
This is a tall biennial/perennial herb with very dark purple, glossy divided foliage. In its second year, dark purple buds open into umbels of pink flowers in late summer – these are very popular with pollinators.
Angelica sylvestris 'Ebony' (Vicar's mead): Angelica sylvestris 'Purpurea'

This impressive form of angelica has finely dissected, shiny foliage with an intensely dark purple colour, verging on black in some specimens. The foliage dies back in autumn, to reappear in spring of second year when tall flowering stalks develop. These are topped by dark purple buds which open into delicate rounded umbels of pinky grey flowers. This is a really good bee and butterfly plant when in flower.

Plant in full sun in a moisture retentive soil. Angelica tends to be too large for the average herb garden but looks spectacular in any border, sited towards the back and underplanted with specimens with pale green or silvery foliage. White or pale pink flowers act as a foil to both the angelica flowers and foliage.

Try adding some of our Echinacea Primadonna White or the new Veronica White Candles – both available from late Spring 2022.

Angelica tends to be a biennial which often dies after flowering in the second year. If you cut back the flowering stems promptly after seeds are formed there maybe a repeat flowering the following year.

This angelica comes true to seed but germination is not great, it is best to leave seeds to germinate where they drop, or gather and sow immediately elsewhere.