10 | November | 2014 | A Gardener's Notebook

Angelica stricta purpurea

Discovered via Pinterest User Pasika Khernamnuoy

My knees shook when I first discovered this rare & spectacular Angelica growing at the Mendocino Botanical Garden. Luckily, the kind folk who work there let us have some seed of this amazing treasure. Growing quickly to 4’ tall & 3’ across, its foliage is a beautiful, luxurious, purple-black, making it stand out like royalty amongst its neighbors. Next come the huge ruby boat shaped buds followed by large, 4-5” umbels color shifting from mauve to dark violet-purple. An absolute must have! And don’t forget that Angelicas are much loved by butterflies, too! EASY, fairly fast and blooms first year if Spring planted. Rich soil is best. Self-sows! — Annie’s Annuals

Angelica is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far north as Iceland and Lapland. They grow to 1–3 m tall, with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers.

Some species can be found in purple moor and rush pastures.

Angelica species grow to 1–3 m tall, with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers. Their large, sparkling, starburst flowers^[1] are pollinated by a great variety of insects (the generalist pollination syndrome), the floral scents are species-specific, and even specific to particular subspecies.^[2] The active ingredients of angelica are found in the roots and rhizomes^[3] and contains furocoumarins in its tissues which make the skin sensitive to light.^[4]— Wikipedia

More information on Angelica stricta purpurea:

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Previously in the Interesting Plant series:

Interesting Plant is a series from A Gardener’s Notebook blog and podcast that highlights the most interesting plants I find in my Internet and real-world travels — Douglas

I have enjoyed all of the Anthony Eglin’s past garden mysteries featuring Lawrence Kingston including The Blue Rose, The Water Lily Cross, The Lost Gardens and more. They are a perfect combination of 2 of my biggest interests — gardening and mystery.

Eglin just released his latest in the series, The Alcatraz Rose.

No sooner than a thirteen-year-old child begs Lawrence Kingston to reinvestigate her mother’s disappearance—a case still unsolved for eight years—the redoubtable botanist, professor, and sleuth receives news that an English rose, extinct for half a century, has been discovered growing on Alcatraz island, 5,000 miles from its former home. As Kingston searches for clues to both mysteries he uncovers the murder of an elderly reclusive gentleman whom he suspects of having firsthand knowledge of the rose. Hampered by a fog of duplicity and lies, his investigation nevertheless leads him to a shocking discovery, the last thing he would ever suspect: a link to one of Britain’s most notorious crimes from the distant past. The Alcatraz Rose is a multi-layered adventure that starts with an innocent cry for help, but turns into a treacherous roller coaster ride that ends with lives hanging in the balance—including Lawrence Kingston’s.

The Lawrence Kington Mysteries are perfect for curling up on a cold Winter night. If you can’t be gardening, you might as well be enjoying a good mystery.

Find all of Anthony Eglin’s books on Amazon.com