How to Grow Lovage
Levisticum officinale
Lovage is a bold, celery-flavoured perennial herb that grows 1.5 m tall and comes back reliably every year. Plant in deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil in full sun or partial shade, and it will need little attention once established. Cut flowering stems before they set seed to encourage a fresh flush of leaves, and cut the whole plant to the ground in autumn. One plant is usually enough for most households.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Apply a balanced fertiliser or well-rotted compost around the base in early spring as new growth emerges. A second light feed after cutting back in midsummer helps maintain vigour.
Watch For
- Leafminers (serpentine tunnels in leaves)
- Celery leaf spot (Septoria apiicola)
- Aphids on new shoots
- Powdery mildew in dry conditions
Track your Lovage care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun to partial shade
Lovage grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade well. In hot summers, afternoon shade helps prevent premature bolting and keeps leaves productive for longer.
💧 Watering
Consistently moist; do not let it dry out
Lovage demands moisture-retentive soil and regular watering during dry spells. Drought causes premature bolting, bitterness, and powdery mildew. Mulch heavily to conserve moisture.
🌱 Fertilizing
Spring feed; second feed after midsummer cut
Apply a balanced fertiliser or well-rotted compost in early spring as growth resumes. A second light feed after cutting back in midsummer encourages a fresh flush of tender leaves.
✂️ Pruning
Cut flower stems before seed set; cut to ground in autumn
Remove flowering stems at the base as soon as flowers fade to prevent self-seeding and stimulate new leaf growth. Cut the whole plant to ground level in late autumn once foliage dies back naturally.
❄️ Overwintering
Fully hardy; dies back to ground each winter
Lovage is fully hardy throughout the UK and reliably re-emerges each spring from its deep rootstock. Cut dead top growth to the ground in autumn and mulch the crown lightly in colder northern gardens.
Growing Tips
One plant is enough
Lovage is extremely vigorous. A single well-placed plant in fertile soil provides more than most households can use. Resist the urge to plant several.
Cut flower stems before they set seed
If flower stems are left to ripen, lovage self-seeds prolifically and can crowd out neighbouring plants. Cut them back to the base as soon as flowers fade.
Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years
Clumps become unproductive when overcrowded. Lift and divide in spring using a sharp spade, replanting one vigorous section and discarding the rest.
Deep fertile soil is non-negotiable
Lovage performs poorly in shallow or sandy soils. It needs deep, moisture-retentive, fertile ground — improve with plenty of well-rotted compost before planting.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Leafminers
Identification: Pale, winding serpentine tunnels or blotches visible within the leaf tissue; affected areas turn brown and papery.
- Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly.
- Encourage parasitic wasps by growing companion flowering herbs nearby.
- No effective systemic options on edible herbs; physical removal is the primary method.
Pest Aphids
Identification: Dense clusters of small green or blackish insects on new shoot tips and the undersides of young leaves; sticky honeydew and distorted growth.
- Blast off with water; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
- Spray with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap.
- Apply a pyrethrin-based contact insecticide in the evening to protect pollinators.
Pest Celery Fly
Identification: Larvae tunnel inside leaves creating large, irregular pale blotches; affected foliage wilts and the plant loses vigour.
- Remove and destroy mined leaves as soon as damage is seen.
- Cover young plants with fine insect mesh in spring to prevent egg-laying.
- No chemical treatments are approved for use on lovage in the UK; cultural controls only.
Disease Celery Leaf Spot Septoria apiicola
Symptoms: Small, roughly circular brown spots with a yellowish halo on leaves and stems; spots may develop dark fruiting bodies (pycnidia) in their centres; severe infection causes leaf blight and dieback.
Treatment: Remove and destroy all affected leaves immediately. Avoid overhead watering. Apply a copper-based fungicide as a preventative in wet seasons.
Prevention: Provide good air circulation through spacing and division; avoid wetting foliage when watering; clear all debris in autumn.
Disease Powdery Mildew Erysiphe heraclei
Symptoms: White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces; affected leaves yellow and die prematurely; most severe in late summer.
Treatment: Remove affected leaves. Spray with potassium bicarbonate or sulphur-based fungicide.
Prevention: Mulch around the base to keep roots moist during dry spells; do not let the plant dry out at the roots; ensure good spacing.
Popular Varieties
Magnus, Czar
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 60 cm |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Mature height | 150 cm |
| Mature spread | 60 cm |
Log Lovage in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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