Herb · Apiaceae
Lovage
Levisticum officinale
Give it rich, moist soil and full sun, and one lovage plant feeds your kitchen with celery flavor for years.
Full sun
Every 3–7 days
90–120 days
USDA 3–9
Overview
Lovage is a tall, hardy perennial herb that tastes like celery turned up loud. It belongs to the carrot and parsley family and grows from a deep crown, sending up hollow stems and glossy, divided leaves year after year. One plant is usually all a kitchen needs.
Give it room, because this is a big herb. It climbs to 4 to 6.5 feet (120 to 200 cm) by midsummer and spreads to a couple of feet across, then throws up airy yellow-green flower heads on stems that tower over the rest of the bed. Set it at the back of a border or in a corner where its size won't crowd smaller plants.
Lovage asks for little once it settles in. It shrugs off hard winters, comes back stronger each spring, and forgives a beginner. Keep the soil rich and the roots moist, and the leaves, stems, and seeds all earn their place in the pot.
Care
The short version: full sun or a little shade, deep fertile soil kept evenly moist, and plenty of room for a herb that grows shoulder-high. Feed it in spring and divide the crown every few years to keep it vigorous.
Light
Lovage does best in full sun but takes partial shade without complaint, which helps where summers run hot. A little afternoon shade keeps the tall leaves from scorching, though the most generous growth comes in an open, sunny spot.
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist, since this big herb drinks a lot and wilts fast when it dries out. Water deeply during dry spells, every 3 to 7 days depending on heat, but don't let the ground stay waterlogged or the crown will rot.
Soil
Plant in deep, fertile, moisture-holding loam with plenty of organic matter worked in. Lovage isn't fussy about pH and runs happily anywhere from 6.0 to 7.5, so long as the soil is rich and the roots stay damp without sitting in water.
Temperature
This is a tough, cold-hardy herb that takes winters down to -29°F (-34°C) and summers up to 86°F (30°C). It dies back to the crown in cold weather and pushes fresh growth again each spring.
Humidity
Average outdoor humidity suits it, somewhere around 40% to 70%, and there's no number to chase. What matters more is moisture at the roots and a bit of air around the leaves.
Feeding
Feed once in spring with a balanced fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost or aged manure. That single seasonal boost carries this hungry herb through the year, fueling the broad leaves and tall stems.
Pruning
Cut back the flowering stalks to keep tender leaves coming, and snip off the flower umbels before they set seed if you don't want it spreading. Harvest the outer leaves as you go, and shear the whole plant back after bloom to bring on a flush of fresh foliage.
Repotting
Lovage grows too large to keep in a pot for long, so it's better in the ground. Refresh it instead by dividing the crown every 3 to 4 years, which keeps the leaves full-sized and the stems thick.
Size & spacing
Expect a substantial plant, 4 to 6.5 feet (120 to 200 cm) tall and 2 to 3.3 feet (60 to 100 cm) wide. Give it a clear spot at the back of the bed so it doesn't shade out smaller herbs.
When to plant
Lovage runs on the seasons and shrugs off cold, hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. Sow it in late winter indoors or fresh in autumn, set young plants out in spring once the frost has passed, and harvest the leaves and stems right through the growing season as the tall flower heads come on in early summer.
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Sow: Late winter to early spring, 6-8 weeks before last frost (fresh seed germinates best)
- Plant: Spring, after the last frost when soil has warmed
- Harvest: Harvest leaves and stems through the growing season; tall yellow-green flower umbels appear early to mid summer, followed by seed
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 3–9
Temperature: down to -40°C
Troubleshooting
Lovage rarely gives much trouble, and what shows up tends to land on the leaves or the tall stems. Catch it early and a quick fix usually settles things. Match what you see below, then act before it spreads.
Wilting plant with a soft, brown crown at the base
This is crown and root rot, and it sets in when the soil stays soggy and water pools around the base. The crown goes soft and smells off, and the roots blacken below. There's no saving badly rotted tissue, so fix the drainage, cut away or replace the affected plant, and ease off the watering.
Fix:
- Improve drainage
- Remove affected tissue or replace plant
- Avoid overwatering
Tall stems flopping over or snapping after a storm
Lovage shoots up on hollow stems that grow top-heavy and give way once wind and rain load down the flower stalks. Stake or cage the tall stems before they reach full height, and cut back some of the flowering shoots to shed weight. A spot out of the strongest wind makes the whole job easier.
Fix:
- Stake or cage tall stems
- Cut back flowering stalks to reduce height and weight
Pale winding trails or chewed holes in the leaves
Two different pests leave these marks. The thin, twisting tunnels are leaf miner larvae feeding inside the leaf, while ragged holes point to celery worms, the green caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly, and sometimes aphids are clustered on the soft new growth. Pull off and bin the mined or eaten leaves, pick the caterpillars off by hand, and knock aphids back with a hard spray of water or a little insecticidal soap.
Fix:
- Remove and destroy mined or infested leaves
- Handpick caterpillars
- Spray aphids off with water or use insecticidal soap
Toxicity
Lovage is a culinary herb that's safe for people and pets alike, with no toxin in the leaves, stems, or seeds. The only thing worth a note is the sap, which holds furanocoumarins that can leave sensitive skin sun-sensitive after you handle a big batch, so wear gloves and rinse off when working in bright sun.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats Safe
This is a safe herb to have around cats. A cat that nibbles a large amount of the strong, aromatic leaves might get a brief upset stomach, but nothing more.
Dogs Safe
Dogs can be around lovage without worry. The worst a big mouthful tends to cause is some mild gas or a loose stool that passes on its own.
Horses Safe
Lovage is fine for horses to graze. The leaves carry no toxin, though a horse that gorges on the pungent foliage may simply find it too strong.
Rabbits Safe
Rabbits can eat the leaves safely. Introduce it in small amounts at first, the way you would any new green, to let their gut settle into it.
Livestock Safe
Goats, sheep, and cattle can browse lovage with no harm done. It carries no compound that poisons grazing animals.
Birds Safe
The plant poses no poisoning risk to backyard hens or pet birds. A taste of the leaves or seed is harmless.
People Safe
The leaves, stems, and seeds are a kitchen staple and safe to eat. The one caveat is the furanocoumarins in the sap, which can leave sensitive skin sun-sensitive after handling, so wear gloves and rinse off in bright weather.
The foliage and sap contain furanocoumarins; skin contact with the sap followed by sun exposure can cause mild phytophotodermatitis (photosensitivity) in sensitive handlers. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling large quantities, especially in bright sun.
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
United Kingdom
Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509000 (fee applies)
Australia
Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738
Varieties
Lovage comes down to a single species rather than a long list of named types, so there's really just one plant to know.
Levisticum officinale (species)
The single widely grown species and the standard culinary form, with hollow stems that taste intensely of celery and glossy, deeply divided leaves.
How to propagate
Lovage is easy to multiply, whether you start it from fresh seed or split an old clump into new plants.
SeedEasy
Late summer/early autumn when seed is fresh, or late winter to early spring indoors · 2-3 weeks to germinate; one full season to establish
Lovage seed loses its viability fast, so sow it fresh in late summer or early autumn, or start it indoors in late winter to early spring. Press it onto the surface rather than burying it, since a little light helps it sprout, and expect seedlings in 2 to 3 weeks and a full season before the plant is established.
DivisionEasy
Early spring or autumn · One growing season
An established clump splits cleanly in early spring or autumn. Lift the crown and cut it into pieces, making sure each one keeps both roots and growth buds, and the divisions settle in over a single growing season.
Myths
Lovage is just another name for celery.
The two share a strong celery taste but are different plants. Lovage is a tall perennial herb, Levisticum officinale, while true celery is the annual Apium graveolens, a separate genus and species in the same Apiaceae family. They look and grow nothing alike.