Lovage — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Levisticum officinale |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 10–21 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 10–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 90–120 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 45.7–61 |
| Mature height (cm) | 121.9–182.9 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 61–91.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 4–8 |
| Light | Partial sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Levisticum officinale is a bold, statuesque perennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae) native to the mountains of southern Europe, producing deeply divided, dark, glossy-green leaves with a powerful, unmistakable flavor of intensified celery — a single large plant can supply a household with celery-like flavoring throughout the growing season from every part: leaves, stems, seeds, and roots. Direct-sow fresh seed in fall in moist, deeply dug, fertile, well-drained to moisture-retentive soil in full sun or light partial shade; seed viability drops sharply after the first year, so always sow the freshest seed available. Once established, lovage grows to 4–6 feet tall with hollow, celery-scented stems and large umbels of small, greenish-yellow flowers in early summer — plants should be cut back hard after flowering to encourage a second flush of tender, flavorful young foliage. Harvest young leaves and stems freely throughout the season for use in soups, stocks, stews, and salads where celery flavor is desired; seeds can be used as a spice and dried roots are used in traditional herbal preparations.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · levisticum-officinale
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0