Woollyhead Parsnip Angelica capitellata
Other Common Name(s):
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
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
