Angelica archangelica (wild celery)

Snorre's Royal Sagas tell of ‘kvanngarder’, special gardens for the cultivation of Angelica archangelica. In 1194, a law was passed (the Gulatingsloven) that imposed punishment for taking Angelica from another man's kvanngard. Today, the cultivated herb is best known from Voss, in the form of ‘vossakvann’ that has filled rather than hollow leaf stalks and is believed to be a surviving remnant of the Vikings’ cultivated vegetables.

In the 14th century, Angelica was considered the best remedy against plague, and much was exported from Bergen and Western Norway. It is still widely used as a flavouring for liquor.

Return to Bergen's plants.