Herb · Apiaceae
Lovage
Levisticum officinale
Plant it in rich, moist soil and full sun, and one lovage crown keeps the kitchen loaded with celery flavor for years.
Full sun
Every 3–7 days
90–120 days
USDA 3–9
Overview
Lovage is the herb that brings real presence to a garden, a tall, hardy perennial that tastes like celery cranked all the way up. It joins the carrot and parsley family and drives up from a deep crown, returning every year with hollow stems and glossy, divided leaves. One plant goes a long way, since a single crown keeps a whole kitchen stocked.
Clear some space before you plant, because this herb takes off. By midsummer it charges up to 4 to 6.5 feet (120 to 200 cm) and spreads a couple of feet wide, then throws airy yellow-green flower heads high over the rest of the bed. Set it at the back of a border or in a roomy corner, and its size becomes a feature instead of a problem.
Best of all, lovage keeps rewarding you for very little effort once it takes hold. It shrugs off brutal winters, surges back stronger every spring, and forgives a beginner's slip-ups. Keep the soil rich and the roots moist, and the leaves, stems, and seeds all pull their weight in the kitchen.
Care
The short version: give lovage full sun or a little shade, deep fertile soil kept evenly moist, and room to stretch to shoulder height. Feed it in spring and split the crown every few years, and it keeps charging back full and vigorous.
Light
Lovage thrives in full sun but takes partial shade in stride, which is a real win where summers scorch. A little afternoon shade keeps the tall leaves from burning, though the biggest, most generous growth comes roaring in from an open, sunny spot.
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist, because this big herb drinks hard and wilts fast the second it dries out. Water deeply through dry spells, every 3 to 7 days depending on the heat, but never let the ground turn waterlogged or the crown will rot.
Soil
Plant it in deep, fertile, moisture-holding loam loaded with organic matter. Lovage does not fuss over pH and thrives anywhere from 6.0 to 7.5, as long as the soil stays rich and the roots stay damp without sitting in water.
Temperature
This herb is genuinely tough, powering through winters down to -29°F (-34°C) and summers up to 86°F (30°C). When the cold hits it dies back to the crown, then bursts out with fresh growth again every spring.
Humidity
Ordinary outdoor humidity keeps it happy, somewhere around 40% to 70%, and there is no number to chase. What really drives it is moisture at the roots and a bit of air moving through the leaves.
Feeding
Feed it once in spring with a balanced fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost or aged manure. That single seasonal boost fuels this hungry herb all year and powers those broad leaves and tall stems.
Pruning
Cut back the flowering stalks to keep the tender leaves rolling in, and snip off the flower umbels before they set seed if you want to keep it in check. Harvest the outer leaves as you go, and shear the whole plant back after bloom to trigger a fresh flush of foliage.
Repotting
Lovage grows way too big to stay in a pot for long, so plant it straight in the ground. Keep it charging by dividing the crown every 3 to 4 years, which holds the leaves full-sized and the stems thick.
Size & spacing
Get ready for a big 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 does not shade out the smaller herbs.
When to plant
Lovage runs on the seasons and powers through the cold, staying hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. Kick it off indoors in late winter or sow it fresh in autumn, move young plants out in spring once the frost clears, and keep harvesting leaves and stems all season as the tall flower heads shoot up 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 throws you a curveball, and what does show up tends to hit the leaves or the tall stems. Catch it early and a quick move usually sorts it out. Match what you see below, then jump in before it spreads.
Wilting plant with a soft, brown crown at the base
A sudden wilt with a base gone soft, brown, and mushy spells crown and root rot, and it moves in wherever the soil stays soggy and water pools around the base. The crown caves in and smells sour while the roots blacken below. There is no bringing rotted tissue back, so act quickly: sharpen up the drainage, cut out or replace the failing plant, and dial back the watering to keep the next one thriving.
Fix:
- Improve drainage
- Remove affected tissue or replace plant
- Avoid overwatering
Tall stems flopping or snapping once a storm hits
All that glorious height comes with a catch that is easy to get ahead of. Lovage rockets up on hollow stems that turn top-heavy, so as the flower stalks fill out, wind and rain can tip or snap them. Get a stake or a cage in early, before the stems reach full height, trim back a few of the flowering shoots to shed some weight, and tuck the plant out of the strongest wind so it can stand tall through the season.
Fix:
- Stake or cage tall stems
- Cut back flowering stalks to reduce height and weight
Pale winding trails or chewed holes turning up on the leaves
Track the damage and the pests give themselves away fast. Those pale, twisting tunnels belong to leaf miner grubs feeding inside the leaf, the ragged holes come from celery worms, the green swallowtail caterpillars, and soft little clusters on the new growth are aphids. Jump on it early: strip off and bin the affected leaves, pick the caterpillars off by hand, and blast the aphids away with a sharp jet of water or a hit of insecticidal soap, and the plant powers right back.
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 is safe for people and pets alike, with no toxin in the leaves, stems, or seeds, so you can grow it and cook from it freely. The one thing to flag is the sap, which carries furanocoumarins that can leave sensitive skin sun-sensitive after you handle a big batch, so pull on gloves and rinse off when working in bright sun.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats Safe
Great news, cats can share the patch with this herb worry-free. Even if one chomps through a big pile of the strong, aromatic leaves, the worst that follows is a quick bout of stomach upset.
Dogs Safe
Dogs get the all-clear around lovage. A big mouthful might stir up a bit of gas or a loose stool, and that sorts itself out on its own.
Horses Safe
Horses can graze lovage freely, because the leaves pack no toxin. Overdo the pungent foliage, though, and a horse tends to back off once the flavor gets too strong.
Rabbits Safe
Rabbits can dig into the leaves safely. Kick things off with just a little at first, the way you would with any new green, and let their gut catch up.
Livestock Safe
Goats, sheep, and cattle can browse lovage with zero harm done. Nothing in the plant poisons a grazing animal.
Birds Safe
Backyard hens and pet birds run no risk from this plant. A peck at the leaves or a nibble of seed does them no harm.
People Safe
The leaves, stems, and seeds are a kitchen favorite and safe to eat, so dig in. The one thing to flag is the furanocoumarins in the sap, which can leave sensitive skin sun-sensitive after handling, so pull on gloves and rinse off when the sun is out.
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 keeps it refreshingly simple with a single species rather than a long list of named types, so there is just one plant to get excited about.
Levisticum officinale (species)
One species carries the whole show, the classic culinary form, and it stands out for hollow stems bursting with celery flavor and glossy, deeply divided leaves.
How to propagate
Lovage is a blast to multiply, whether you fire it up 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 fades fast, so grab the momentum and sow it fresh in late summer or early autumn, or fire it up indoors in late winter to early spring. Press it onto the surface instead of burying it, since a splash of light sparks germination, and watch for seedlings in 2 to 3 weeks with one full season before the plant hits its stride.
DivisionEasy
Early spring or autumn · One growing season
Turn one established clump into several by splitting it in early spring or autumn. Lift the crown, slice it into pieces, and keep both roots and growth buds on every one, then plant them out and let them power up over a single growing season.
Myths
Lovage is just celery wearing a different name.
They taste remarkably alike, yet they are genuinely two different plants. Lovage is the tall perennial herb Levisticum officinale, while true celery is the annual Apium graveolens, a separate genus and species that only shares the Apiaceae family. Put them side by side and they look and grow nothing alike.