Description
Ranger’s buttons is an intriguing perennial wildflower in the carrot (Apiaceae) family that grows in moist habitats in western North America, from Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and California, south into Baja California in Mexico. In the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion it is most often seen growing in moist, high elevation meadows near springs, lakes or streams. Ranger’s buttons has white flower clusters in tight, round balls (compound umbels) that bloom in the summer. When it is in bloom ranger’s buttons can reach up to 2-5′ tall. Ranger’s buttons also goes by the common names woollyhead parsnip, button parsley, or grayswamp whiteheads. Ranger’s buttons used to be in the genus Sphenosciadium, a monotypic genus containing the single species Sphenosciadium capitellatum; however, it is now placed in the genus Angelica according to Calflora and is classified as Angelica capitellata. Ranger’s buttons is a larval host plant for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
Ranger’s buttons (Angelica capitellata) seed packets contain approximately 160 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
Sow seeds outside in fall to early winter.