Angelica kingii
King's angelica, King's Angelica, King's angelica, King's angelica
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Angelica kingii (King's angelica) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
King's angelica is a California native perennial found in the White Mountains on subalpine streambanks at elevations of 2,100 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white flowers in umbels with 7 to 14 unequal rays extending 0.5 to 10 centimeters long. Growing 30 to 200 centimeters tall with a glabrous to slightly roughened stem, it forms an upright, robust perennial herb. Its large leaves are complex, measuring 15 to 40 centimeters long, with 1-ternate-pinnate structure featuring 3 to 12 centimeter lanceolate leaflets that are entire to sparsely serrate. The fruit is a small, oblong structure measuring 4 to 5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Subalpine streambanks
Elevation: 2100-3100 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Angelica kingii blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Heracleum: Angelica has uniform petals across the flower cluster; Heracleum has dramatically enlarged outer petals.; vs Oenanthe: Angelica has coarse leaf segments; Oenanthe has finely divided, almost feathery leaflets.; vs Cicuta: Angelica has a smooth stem base; Cicuta stem base has chambered cross-sections visible when cut.; vs Sambucus: Angelica has umbrella-shaped flower clusters and divided leaves; Sambucus has flat-topped clusters and opposite leaves.; vs Ligusticum: Angelica has a smooth stem base; Ligusticum stem base is wrapped in fibrous leaf remains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Angelica kingii native to California?
Yes. Angelica kingii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Angelica kingii bloom?
Angelica kingii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Angelica kingii grow?
Angelica kingii occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 2100-3100 m.
What plant family does Angelica kingii belong to?
Angelica kingii is in the Apiaceae family, genus Angelica.
Is Angelica kingii rare or endangered?
Angelica kingii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.