Angelica morii (syn. A. taiwaniana)

Taiwanese Angelica Apiaceae

A handsome Taiwanese angelica with all the architectural drama expected of the genus, Angelica morii produces stout, upright stems carrying finely divided, aromatic foliage before rising to broad umbels of small white flowers. It is a particularly good plant for the larger woodland or meadow garden, bringing height and structure without becoming the thuggish brute that some angelicas can be.

Native to Taiwan and south-eastern China, it is principally a plant of the high mountains of Taiwan, commonly occurring around 2,500–3,000m, particularly on open slopes and roadsides.  Give it fertile, humus-rich soil with reliable moisture and good drainage, in sun or light shade.

And it is not merely ornamental. Young shoots and tender stems of Taiwanese angelicas are traditionally gathered as edible greens, although A. morii is better regarded as a wild vegetable rather than a mainstream culinary crop. As with all wild Apiaceae, accurate identification is essential before consumption.

The nomenclature has recently been tidied up: Angelica taiwaniana, described in 1975, is now considered a synonym of A. morii. The 2024 Taiwanese revision used both morphological and molecular evidence in reaching this conclusion. 

Distribution: South-eastern China & Taiwan
Flowering: July–September
Growing conditions: Fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; sun or light shade
Hardiness: H5 — approximately -15 to -10°C
Height: 100–150cm
Spread: 60–100cm