Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Wet Mesic Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Plant Height:	36-108 inches
Plant Spread:	20-35 inches
Leaves:	Deciduous Fragrant Other: Dark green, glossy, upright compound leaves
Flowers:	Showy Fragrant
Flower Color:	Yellow
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer
Underground structures:	Taproot
Uses:	Culinary Herb Medicinal Herb Vegetable
Edible Parts:	Stem Leaves Roots Seeds or Nuts
Eating Methods:	Culinary Herb/Spice Raw Cooked
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees
Resistances:	Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile Provide darkness Suitable for wintersowing Sow in situ Start indoors Can handle transplanting Other info: Needs no stratification.
Pollinators:	Moths and Butterflies Flies Bees

Victory Seed Company sells seeds of Lovage (Levisticum officinale).

Common names

Lovage
Maggi Herb

Photo Gallery

Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 10-01-16
Black Swallowtail caterpillar on the stems of a Lovage plant , on

Uploaded by krobra

Location: Taos County, New Mexico, USA
Date: 2019-06-12
Mature Lovage

Uploaded by Henderman

Location: zone 5 Indiana
Date: 2022-06-04

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by lauribob

Location: Herb area - full sun
Date: 2014-06-17

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Calgary, Canada
Date: 2018-01-27
After chilling and back to warmth

Uploaded by CarolineScott

Location: My garden in N E Pa.
Date: 2015-06-18
This is a great plant for pollinators.

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by JHeirloomSeeds

Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2014-04-08
early spring new growth

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by lauribob

Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - near Lake Ontario, zone 6a
Date: 2013-06-17
8 feet +

Uploaded by tinpins

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2015-07-01

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by tinpins

Location: Herb area - full sun
Date: 2014-06-17
The fresh, new, green leaves are nice in place of celery in salad

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2014-03-13
Emerging in spring

Uploaded by Bonehead

Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2009-08-01

Uploaded by JonnaSudenius

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-04-13
Young plant.

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2011-07-13

Uploaded by Bonehead

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by vic

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 2015-06-29

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-07-20

Uploaded by plantrob

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2018-03-04

Uploaded by janinilulu

Uploaded by EricaBraun

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Apr 8, 2014 12:04 PM concerning plant:

A perennial herb here in zone 5.
I use this plant's leaves as a substitute for celery in things like potato salad and soups. Has a stronger flavor than most celery. The stems are hollow and are used by some as straws for the drink Bloody Mary. Dried leaves retain a lot of flavor.
Will self sow. I deadhead before it goes to seed because one plant is all I need, but I do let it flower because it appears to be very attractive to many insects.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 23, 2014 9:12 PM concerning plant:

Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a perennial herb. Its tall height makes it suitable for the back of the garden. Lovage has a long history of culinary use in Europe. Its leaves can be used in teas and salads or as a seasoning, its seeds can be used as a flavoring or spice, and its roots are also edible as a vegetable.

Lovage also serves as a larval host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Mar 13, 2014 12:48 PM concerning plant:

Very tall plant that needs elbow room, but is fairly good at self-supporting. I cut the flowering stalks back to about 3' as soon as each starts to lean, which extends the season a bit. Spreads to about a 2' clump in a year or so. Self-seeds.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Cyclaminist (Minneapolis, Minnesota - Zone 5a) on May 13, 2016 1:14 PM concerning plant:

I've got several plants from Fedco seed. They're still young, but the leaves grow so tall that I can imagine the plants being huge when they're mature. To me, the fragrance smells a lot like curry. Very interesting, but I have yet to use it.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
lovesblooms	On March 1, 2020	Seeds sown winter sow
lovesblooms	On February 24, 2018	Seeds sown winter sown
antsinmypants	On May 3, 2021	Plant emerged
antsinmypants	On April 27, 2021	Seeds sown Plug flat two row 13

» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Levisticum Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

Levisticum
Lovage (Levisticum officinale)