Levisticum officinale
Lovage
- Height × spread
- 2m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
Availability
Generally available in Autumn & Winter
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Lovage is a striking herb that grows vigorously and has a pleasing appearance. It makes a frothy mound of largish, three lobed leaves, subtly heart-shaped if you exercise your imagination. The leaves are a light yellow-green, while the flowers are rather spindly, white efforts at the top. If crushed, the leaves have a celery scent and you can eat them raw or use them as a flavouring. One recipe advocates two leaves per two pints of soup, so one plant would service a soup kitchen. It was once used in the manufacture of a drink called lovage.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 2m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Prairie garden, Herb garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.