Filmy Angelica is a herbaceous perennial native to the Appalachian Mountains in the carrot family (Apiaceae), found in open areas of woods and meadows in moderate to high elevations from Georgia to Pennsylvania. It prefers full sun to part shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Filmy Angelica will grow 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. Small greenish white flowers appear in 6 inch wide terminal clusters in August to September. They are thought to be mildly poisonous as bees that have visited the flowers fly irradically or become lethargic. While not much is known of the poisonous characteristics of this plant, it does cause bees, yellow jackets, hornets, and other insects that consume the nectar to appear intoxicated or lethargic thus the flower is suspected to be poisonous. It may also cause sensitivity to sunlight and contact dermatitis if brushed up against.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong; Obovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves contain 3 inch leaflets which are coarsely toothed, may be lobed with a marginal fringe of minute hairs and a sharp-pointed apex. The veined leaves may be elliptical to lanceolate shape.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Compound umbels are 3-6 inches across with 13 to 25 umbellets. Flowers are pale green to greenish-white and sometimes tinged with pink. Blooms August - September in NC. Nectar may be intoxicating to bees, yellow jackets, hornets and other insects.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Striped smooth seeds are flattened with 2 lateral wings that fruits in September - October in NC.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems often go from a green to a reddish-purple as it ages and becomes slightly hairy towards inflorescence.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Appalachian Mountains
Distribution
GA, KY, MD, NC, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
Wildlife value
Attracts bees and other insect pollinators. Host plant to 5 butterfly and moth species
Nectar is poisonous to some insects (bees, yellow jackets, hornets) and causes them to appear intoxicated. Can cause photosensitivity (sunburn, dermatitis).