How to grow Lovage
Updated October 2026
Lovage is a tall, hardy perennial herb with a strong celery flavor. Every part is edible: the leaves for soups and stews, the stems like celery, the seeds in breads and the roots as a vegetable. It reaches about 6 feet, so a single plant is plenty, and it does best where summers are not too hot.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lovage
Not to be confused with: Lovage tastes like celery and is in the same family, but it is a large perennial grown for its leaves and seeds rather than its stalks.
Where to plant
Lovage grows best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It is a cool-climate perennial, hardy to about zone 4, that dies back in winter and returns each spring.
Give it room at the back of an herb bed. It spreads by rhizomes and can self-seed, and NC State Extension notes it has escaped cultivation and is considered invasive in New England, so cut the seed heads before they drop seed.
- The Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic and Alaska: plant in spring; it is fully hardy.
- The Mid-South, Southern Plains, Northern California and North Florida: plant in fall to spring and give it afternoon shade in summer.
- Central and South Florida and Hawaii: lovage is a cool climate perennial (NC State lists zones 4 to 9); it struggles in the heat there and is not recommended.
How to plant
- Plant young plants or divisions in spring, about 2 feet from other plants.
- Water well while the plant establishes, and mulch to keep the roots moist.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil moist, especially in dry spells, for tender leaves. Topdress with compost each spring rather than using strong fertilizer.
Pruning and care through the year
- Cut stems back regularly from late spring to early fall to encourage fresh, tender leaves.
- Remove flower heads or harvest seed before it drops, to keep lovage from spreading.
- Clear away the old foliage in late fall.
Harvesting
Pick young leaves and stems as needed through the season; regular cutting keeps fresh, tender leaves coming. Use them sparingly at first, as the flavor is strong. Collect seed heads as they ripen, which also stops the plant spreading.
Propagation and saving seed
Divide established clumps in early spring, or grow from seed.
Companion planting
Lovage's large umbrella-shaped flowers attract beneficial insects. Keep it where its height will not shade other crops.
Good companions
- Bush beans A traditional pairing; lovage flowers bring in beneficial insects.
- Potato A traditional companion in older gardening lore.
Pests and diseases
Lovage is a sturdy herb with a few pests shared with celery and parsley.
Pests to watch for
- Leaf miner Pale, winding tunnels in the leaves; pick off affected leaves.
- Aphids Clusters on young shoots and flower stems.
Diseases to watch for
- Leaf spot Brown spots on older leaves in wet weather.
- Early blight Dark spots with rings on leaves.
Common questions
What does lovage taste like?
A strong, celery-like flavor with a hint of parsley. Use it in soups, stews and stocks, where a little goes a long way.
Is lovage invasive?
It can spread by rhizomes and seed. NC State Extension notes it has escaped cultivation and is considered invasive in New England. Cut off seed heads and keep it to one plant.
How big does lovage get?
About 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide when mature, so one plant is enough for most kitchens.
Which parts of lovage can I eat?
All of it: leaves and stems as a herb or vegetable, seeds in breads and cakes, flowers in salads and the roots as a vegetable.
Can I grow lovage in Florida?
Only in North Florida, and even there it dislikes summer heat. It is a cool-climate perennial and struggles in Central and South Florida.
Sources we checked: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Levisticum officinale.
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