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.

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Levisticum Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

Levisticum
Lovage (Levisticum officinale)