Grow Lovage: Easy Care Tips for Celery-Flavored Leaves All Season

Grow lovage for a steady supply of aromatic leaves with a flavor often compared to celery, though stronger and more savory. This hardy perennial herb returns year after year and can grow into a large plant, so give it room, fertile soil, and regular moisture. Once established, lovage needs little attention beyond watering during dry spells and cutting back its tall flower stems when you want to encourage more leafy growth.

How to grow lovage

Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a perennial in the carrot family. Its leafy stems can reach several feet tall, and a mature plant may spread 2 to 3 feet or more. Choose a location where it will not crowd smaller herbs. It grows in full sun or partial shade; in hot-summer regions, afternoon shade can help protect it from heat stress.

Lovage prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil. Before planting, work compost into the bed to improve the soil and supply organic matter. Avoid a spot that stays waterlogged, since persistently wet soil can damage the roots. If your garden soil dries quickly, a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture.

Starting seeds and planting seedlings

Lovage seeds can be slow or uneven to germinate, particularly if they are old. Use fresh seed when possible. Sow seeds outdoors in spring after the soil has warmed, or start them indoors several weeks before the last expected frost. Cover them lightly with soil and keep the seedbed evenly moist while they germinate.

Handle lovage seedlings gently when transplanting. Like other plants in its family, lovage develops a substantial root system, and larger plants may be harder to move successfully. Set seedlings at the same depth they were growing in their pots, then water them well.

Allow about 24 to 36 inches between plants. This lovage spacing gives mature foliage room to spread and improves airflow around the leaves. A single plant can provide plenty of leaves for a household, so consider its eventual size before adding several to a small bed.

Lovage plant care through the growing season

Keep the soil consistently moist while young plants establish. Mature lovage can tolerate brief dry periods, but its leaves stay more tender when the plant receives regular water. Check the soil during hot or windy weather, and water deeply when the surface begins to dry. Mulch around the plant, leaving a little space around the stems.

Lovage grows vigorously in fertile soil. A yearly layer of compost in spring is usually enough for a garden-bed plant. Too much high-nitrogen fertilizer can encourage abundant soft growth, so use it sparingly.

Tall flower stalks appear as the plant matures. The small yellow flowers attract pollinators, and the seeds can be collected for cooking or saved for planting. If your priority is leaf production, cut flower stalks back as they develop. The plant may produce fresh foliage afterward, though growth slows during heat or drought.

Lovage is among the larger perennial culinary herbs, and its size makes placement important. Avoid putting it where it will shade low-growing herbs or block a path. It can be grown near the back of an herb bed, where its height is less likely to crowd neighboring plants.

Lovage in containers

Lovage in containers needs a large, deep pot to accommodate its roots and mature size. Choose a sturdy container with drainage holes, ideally at least 18 inches wide and deep. A smaller pot may restrict growth and dry out quickly.

Use a quality potting mix that drains freely, and check moisture often. Containers lose water faster than garden beds, especially in summer. Water when the upper layer of mix begins to dry, and make sure excess water can escape. Refresh the potting mix or top-dress with compost in spring. In cold regions, move the pot to a sheltered place for winter because roots in containers are more exposed to freezing temperatures than roots in the ground.

Lovage harvest

You can take a few leaves once a young plant is growing strongly, but let it establish before making frequent or heavy cuts. Snip outer stems as needed, and avoid removing so much foliage that the plant cannot continue growing. Leaves are usually most tender before the plant flowers.

The leaves have a concentrated celery flavor, so begin with a small amount in soups, stews, stocks, salads, or savory sauces. The hollow stems can be chopped for cooking, while the seeds add flavor to breads and other dishes. Fresh leaves are generally more potent than celery, making gradual seasoning a sensible approach.

For a continuing supply, harvest selectively through spring and summer rather than cutting the whole plant at once. If the plant becomes tall or untidy, trim it back after flowering and allow new growth to develop.

Lovage winter care

Lovage is a cold-hardy perennial in many climates. After frost, its aboveground growth usually dies back; the roots remain dormant and send up new shoots in spring. Cut away dead stems once the plant has finished growing. In areas with severe winters or fluctuating temperatures, spread a light layer of mulch over the crown after the ground cools.

A container-grown plant needs more protection. Move it beside a sheltered wall, into an unheated garage, or to another protected location where the pot will not repeatedly freeze and thaw. Keep the soil from becoming completely dry, but do not leave the container standing in water.

With enough space and steady moisture, lovage is a dependable addition to a perennial herb garden. Its large leaves provide a useful celery-flavored herb from spring into fall, while the plant returns each year with little more than seasonal cleanup and occasional harvesting.