When to Plant Angelica in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow October to December. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is October.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Angelica guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Angelica

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A tall, stately biennial herb native to northern Europe, grown for its aromatic stems, leaves and seeds. Angelica prefers cool, moist conditions and struggles in hot Australian summers. Best suited to cool-temperate and cold-highland zones where it can reach 1.5-2m tall.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - S S/T T

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Angelica in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Sow seed trays Sep-Oct, transplant Oct-Nov. Direct sow in autumn.

Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained loam with plenty of organic matter
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Part shade to full sun in cool areas; afternoon shade essential in warm zones
Spacing
45cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. Will wilt quickly in dry conditions.

Companion plants: Mint, Lemon Balm, Chives

Avoid planting near: Dill, Fennel

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Angelica

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard Angelica archangelica

Key Challenges

  • Short growing season
  • Late frosts can damage young transplants

Pro Tips

  • Best Australian zone for angelica. Closest to its native climate
  • Protect from late spring frosts
  • Will naturalise in ideal conditions

Harvesting Angelica

When ready: Leaves can be harvested once plant is well established (30cm+). Stems best harvested in late spring of second year before flowering. Seeds harvested when brown and dry.

How to harvest: Cut outer leaves as needed. Cut stems at base for candying. Cut seed heads when browning and dry in paper bag.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common Questions About Angelica

When do you plant angelica in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does angelica grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.