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Angelica
Angelica is not just the name of a naughty child in the Rug Rats, it is a very well liked aromatic herb. This is a sweet smelling plant used in cooking and medicine. Angelica is a large herb that can grow as much as 10 ft high and 3 ft wide. Its flowers are yellow and green and appear between July and August. The best time to plant this herb is March in moist, humus-rich soil, they like sun and partial shade. Leaves stalks are picked for candying in May to June.
Seeds that fall from the plant easily re seed themselves producing dozens of seedlings. It is the stems and foliage that is mainly used from this plant so if you do not require the seeds you should remove the flower heads as soon as they begin to appear, by doing this more foliage will be produced. This also helps to increase the plants life.
Roots and seeds of Angelica are used as flavouring Agents in alcoholic liqueurs like Benedictine, Chartreuse, Gin and Vermouth. The fruit is used in herbal tea. The leaves can be blanched, boiled and eaten in salads or as a garnish with vegetables and meat.
As a medicinal plant Angelica was considered to have healing powers. It was used as an expectorant, stimulant, and as a tonic. The plant has been used as a remedy for nervous headache, fever, skin rashes, wounds, rheumatism and tooth ache.
This is one plant that is over looked in this day and age by a lot of gardeners but is a wonderful addition to any garden and it is almost like having a complete medicine cupboard in one plant.
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