Meet the neighbours · herb
Lovage
A tall, parsley-celery-flavoured perennial where every part is usable.
Lovage is a tall, hardy perennial related to parsley, with a strong flavour resembling a parsley-celery combination. Extremely cold-hardy (Zones 3-9) and can reach up to 8 feet tall.
How to grow it
- Tolerates partial shade, likes consistent moisture, and self-seeds readily — easy to share starts with friends.
- Germination from seed is unreliable (~50%), so a transplant from an established plant is the better starting point.
How to use & eat it
- Seeds: crushed in a mortar and pestle, sprinkled over salads, breads, or mashed potatoes.
- Leaves: chopped fresh into salads, dips, or in place of parsley in chicken or tuna salad.
- Stalks: simmered in stock, though tough.
- For winter use, dry and powder the leaves and mix with salt to make a homemade 'celery salt.'