Great Angelica

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Great Angelica (Purplestem Angelica)
Angelica atropurpureaa [C-value 7]
Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Blooms June - mid-July

The native Great Angelica is uncommon in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and consistently wet to moist conditions. This perennial wildflower is 3-8' tall, branching sparingly, with alternate compound leaves along the lower-half of the plant. The compound leaves are bipinnate with 3-5 leaflets or subleaflets per division. The subleaflets are ¾-4½" long and ½-2½" across, toothed and oval-shaped. The upper stems terminate in one or more compound umbels of flowers spanning 3-9" across that are globoid in shape. Each compound umbel has 15-40 floral branches terminating in small umbellets having numerous greenish white to pale yellow flowers on pedicels about ½" in length. Each flower is up to ¼" across with 5 petals with incurved tips.

Great Angelica at Blackberry Trail Forest Preserve (along creek) June 5, 2013

Great Angelica (new spring foliage) at Farnsworth House May 13, 2017

Great Angelica at Harris Forest Preserve July 12, 2015

Click here for more information.

Back to index page

Back to K.C.F.P. home page