Herbs > Lovage Herb

Information on, uses of and how to grow lovage:

Name
Levisticum officinale.

Family
Apaceae.

History
Lovage was used in early times as a bath herb. It cleans and deodorizes the skin.

Growing pattern
Perennial.

Seeds
Buy Lovage Seeds (Organic and Non-Organic) from The Green Chronicle (Pay in £, $US, Euro).
Herbs, Seasonings and Spices - Buy Lovage, Lovage Root from Mountain Rose Herbs ($US).

How to grow
Sow Lovage seeds in the spring if in its permanent position or in summer if you want to transplant the plants in the autumn. Only a few plants are needed. The roots can be divided in the spring just as the leaves appear. Make sure that the roots have a shoot and replant them 60 cm apart.

Soil condition/position
Lovage requires a moist, sunny position. Plant them at the back of the herb garden as they grow very tall.

Appearance
Grows to 150cm plus.

Uses
Lovage leaves are used in soups and gravies. The leaves have a celery like taste and so it can be used to good effect in vegetable soup. The young stalks and leaves are tasty cooked as a vegetable. Peel or scrape the stalks, chop them and boil in salted water until tender. Serve with a white sauce. The crushed seeds and chopped leaves can be added to omelettes, the seeds having the stronger flavour. The young stems of Lovage can be candied like Angelica and a good cordial can be made from this. Lovage broth made from the seeds is traditionally a diuretic and appetite stimulant.