Finally Growing Angelica ‘Gigas’

I’ve lost count of how long I’ve been trying to grow Angelica ‘Gigas’.

From when I first saw a picture of one, I knew I had to have it in the garden. I love tall plants anyway, and this statues plant can grow up to two and a half metres high. With its red stems and stunning dark plum-purple domed flower heads, it was an absolute must have!

Angelica is a biennial plant, meaning it doesn’t flower in its first year. It puts its roots down, ready to flower the following year. Once it has flowered it dies completely, hopefully having set seeds to create next years plants.

Take One – Buying at the wrong time of year

It was late autumn when I ordered my first plant online. When it came I felt so disappointed, with the tiddly little plant I’d received. I didn’t help the situation by leaving it outside in its pot all winter. Come the spring nothing appeared. Since then the only things I buy in autumn and winter are bulbs and seeds!

Take Two – Find one unexpectedly

Later that year our local horticultural society had its annual plant fair. Members donate plants for sale to raise funds for the society. What a wonderful surprise to see a few substantial plants labelled up Angelica ‘Gigas’. I of course bought one, and went home thrilled with my purchase!

My neighbour also a member of the society and a very keen gardener, was also very pleased to have picked one up.

We were to be disappointed though!

It was such a healthy plant and grew so well, but… As it got bigger, it became obvious that something was wrong as the stem was green. I continued to hope, and as it got taller it finally produced some beautiful domed flowers, that were a lovely shade of – green!

It turned out to be the common green variety, Angelica ‘Archangelica’. Although it was beautiful in its own right, it was not what I was hoping for!

Take Three – Grow it from seed

Seeds, that’s the way to go! Bought from a reputable source. That can’t possibly go wrong, can it?

I’ve had so few seeds not germinate over the years. When Monty and co. tell you to put two or three seeds into a pot as they may not all germinate, I never do. Maybe I’ve just been lucky with my seed germination, up until now….

Of course you’ve guessed by now, my Angelica seeds did not germinate. I waited and waited, I even dreamed they’d germinated, only to wake up and feel disappointed! Not before rushing down stairs and check though!

I looked online for answers, and discovered that the seed needs to be really fresh.

Take Four – Buy another plant

I’d not given up yet! In the spring I ordered a plant from Marshalls. I potted it into a larger pot and let it grow on for a couple of months. Finally planting it in summer, into the back of the woodland border. Fingers crossed for a flower next year.

Take Five – One more go with seeds & a surprise!

By January I’d actually forgotten about buying a plant last year, having had so many failures.

I ordered another packet of seeds, this time from Chilton Seeds. I still only managed to raise one small plant from approximately 10 seeds. But still that’s the best so far!

I nurtured this tiny plant and once I felt it was strong enough, I planted it into the border. In hope that it would flower next year.

In the middle of October I went to top the bird feed up, something my husband always does. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Angelica Gigas in all it’s beauty! Not just one beautiful flower but three, purple domed flowers, with more buds coming. It wasn’t the tallest specimen, but after all of these years, I was over the moon!

This was obviously the plant bought from Marshalls last year, and forgotten about.

It has finally worked out really well, as when this plant dies, I can save seeds to sow next year, to hopefully flower the year after. And the little plant I grew this year will, fingers crossed, flower next year.

I’ve hopefully cracked it and should have Angelica ‘Gigas’ in the garden from this point on.

Perseverance pays!

Stay safe & happy gardening.