Purplestem Angelica (Angelica atropururea)
Purple-stemmed Angelica is a perennial native to eastern and central North America—including Wisconsin. It can grow up to ten feet tall with most plants in the four to eight foot range. Its flowers are small, only about a quarter inch across, but they bloom in large umbrella-like clusters called umbels that span 8 to 10 inches wide. The flowers are typically white to greenish-white and bloom from late spring into summer. The leaves are compound and can reach up to 24 inches in both length and width. Each leaflet grows to about 4.5 inches long and 2.5 inches wide, with a toothed, oval to lance-oval shape. The stems are hollow, smooth, and purple. They are typically 1 to 2 inches thick. Purple-stemmed Angelica prefers moist to wet, nutrient‑rich soils, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It thrives in sunny marshes, wet meadows, and along streambanks, especially where the soil has some lime content, but can survive in partial shade.
Ecologically, purple angelica—as a member of the carrot family—plays a valuable role in supporting biodiversity. Like many other Apiaceae species, it features umbels of flowers that are especially attractive to a wide range of pollinators, including bees and flies. While specific larval host associations for purple angelica remain under-documented, related species in the family are known to support caterpillars of butterflies and moths. By offering nectar, pollen, and shelter, purple angelica contributes to the ecological richness of the wetland environments where it thrives.
Sources:
USDA PLANTS Database — Angelica atropurpurea species profile
Minnesota Wildflowers — Angelica atropurpurea (Purple‑stemmed Angelica)
Illinois Wildflowers — Purple‑stemmed Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
Flora of North America — Angelica atropurpurea botanical description
Michigan Flora / University of Michigan — Angelica atropurpurea account
NatureServe Explorer — Angelica atropurpurea conservation status and distribution
UW–Madison Division of Extension — Native wetland plants of Wisconsin
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