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Ranger's Buttons Angelica capitellata

Previously known as:

  • Selinum capitellatum
  • Selinum eryngiifolium
  • Sphenosciadium capitellatum
  • Sphenosciadium capitellatum var. scabrum
  • Sphenosciadium eryngifolium
Phonetic Spelling
an-JEL-ih-kuh kap-ih-tel-AY-ta
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Ranger's Buttons is a perennial plant in the carrot family native to California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon typically found in moist habitats such as meadows, stream banks, and wetlands.  It is highly photogenic in the late summer with its button-like white flowers that form 4” wide umbels atop a stout, erect stem that can reach 6’ high.

Plant in the full sun to partial shade in average moist soils.  Its nectar attracts bees and butterflies and is a larval host plant for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly so it would make an excellent addition to a pollinator garden if you can find it, it is not widely sold in the industry.

This plant can be distinguished from other white-flowered members of the carrot family which usually have flatter umbellets that are adjacent or overlap.

It is considered toxic to all livestock but is rarely eaten and can cause photosensitivity if brushed up against.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#herbaceous perennial#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#herbaceous perennial#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Angelica
    Species:
    capitellata
    Family:
    Apiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western North America, California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho
    Distribution:
    Wetlands of the northwest United States
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees and butterflies nectar at this plant. Larval host plant for Anise Swallowtail butterfly.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Fruit Type:
    Schizocarp
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit is oblong to round, flattened, glabrous to hairy with prominent winged ribs.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Ornamental white spherical inflorescence that is a 4 inch across tight compound umbel made of between 4-18 umbellets that look like fuzzy buttons protruding from hairy stems. The tiny white flowers change from pinkish-purple buds to pure white flowers which later fade to light purple. The button-like flower is about 1/2 inch in diameter and blooms in July - August.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Ternate (3 leaves) or pinnate sparsely toothed or irregularly lobed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    White
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stout, erect, smooth stem turns hairy within the inflorescence.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Photosensitivity (sunburn, dermatitis)
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Furocoumarins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Stems