Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
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❤️ Why you'll love it
A tall perennial herb with a celery-like flavour, used in soups, stews and salads.
🌿 Details
How to look after Lovage (Levisticum officinale) in the UK
Position & Light:
Grow in full sun or partial shade. Lovage is a tall, hardy perennial herb with a strong, celery-like flavour, glossy, dark green leaves and umbels of yellow-green flowers in summer, which attract hoverflies and other beneficial insects. It can reach 1.5-2 metres tall, so it suits the back of borders, herb gardens and vegetable plots, and needs plenty of space.
Soil & Watering:
Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Water regularly, particularly in dry spells, as lovage dislikes drying out. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. It is too large for most containers unless they are very big.
Feeding:
Give a balanced fertiliser or a mulch of well-rotted compost in spring to support its fast growth. It is a hungry plant.
Pruning & Maintenance:
Pick young leaves regularly through spring and summer, as they have a strong flavour, so a little goes a long way. Cut flower stems as they appear to keep plants producing tender leaves, or leave some for pollinators and seed. If leaves become tough or yellow in midsummer, cut the whole plant back to about 10cm for a fresh flush. Cut back dead stems in autumn. Divide clumps in spring or autumn every few years.
Common Problems:
- Tough, bitter leaves: Older leaves are strong. Cut back and pick young leaves.
- Leaf miners: Pale tracks in leaves. Remove affected leaves promptly.
- Slugs and snails: Young shoots may be nibbled in spring.
- Wilting: Caused by dry soil. Keep evenly moist.
- Large size: Lovage becomes very big. Allow plenty of space or cut back hard.
Supplied bare root, carefully packed with a moisture source to ensure freshness.
Plant height: approximately 10cm.
Please remember that most plants (except Evergreens) are dormant in Autumn/Winter so your order may have no leaves until Spring.
🪴 What Does Bare Root Mean?
Our plants have their full root systems but are carefully removed from the pot and soil before delivery.
The roots are wrapped in moist material and eco-friendly packaging to keep them fresh during transit.
It's less messy, reduces waste, and allows the plant to settle into your garden more easily once planted.
🌱 Sustainably Grown in Britain
Plants are sustainably grown and harvested at our nursery in the South West UK, without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
Packaged using biodegradable materials for an eco-conscious delivery.
📜 Certified & Compliant
We are APHA-authorized for Plant Passports: your assurance that our plants are healthy, pest-free, and meet UK plant health regulations.
🚚 Combined Postage & Fast Dispatch
No extra delivery charge when you buy multiple plants from us! Simply add all the plants you love to your basket and pay one flat delivery fee at checkout.
Shipped via UPS Express, so they are in transit for less than 24 hours: includes care cards tailored to each plant you order.
Orders are sent out at the beginning of each week to reduce time in transit,
see Delivery information.
📌 Planting Advice
Upon arrival, plant immediately in a cool, shaded spot (indoors or outdoors) and water thoroughly.
Once new growth appears, move to the final growing location.
💚 Our Guarantee
If your plant doesn't survive delivery*, just send us a photo and we'll send a replacement (or issue a refund).
No hassle, no worries.
* provided you accept the first delivery attempt