Angelica Tree Aralia elata Play pronunciation

Japanese angelica tree is a rapidly growing, woody deciduous, multistemmed large shrub or small tree in the ginseng family (Araliaceae). It is an invasive species in North Carolina that was introduced to the United States in 1830 from eastern Asia. 

Japanese angelica grows 8 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide and is difficult to control. The branches and trunk have sharp spines. The flowers should be cut in late summer as soon as they fade then bagged and trashed to avoid seed spread. Do not compost. If allowed to fruit, birds and small mammals will eat the fruits and spread the seeds. Its root suckering habit also contributes to its invasiveness. Simply mowing down the suckers will not control the spread and may stimulate more aggressive growth. Each sucker must be dug out to the point where it meets the main stem. 

Angelica can be easily confused with devil’s walking stick, a similar looking tree native to the eastern United States including North Carolina. One way to tell them apart is to look closely at the flower panicles. Angelica’s will often be shorter and more wide than long while those of the devil’s walking stick are often longer and more long than wide. Best to check with your local Extension office for a proper identification. 

Due to its aggressiveness, the angelica tree invades forest canopy gaps, forest edges, and right of ways. Please consider plants that fill a similar niche, which are listed to the left. 

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to leaf spots, aphids and mealybugs.