Lovage
Levisticum officinale
Lovage is a perennial plant with a long history of use in European cuisine as an herb, a root vegetable, and a spice. Native to the mountainous regions of the eastern Mediterranean, Lovage is a close relative to carrots, celery, and parsley, all with which it shares similarities in flavor and growth habit. Growing up to six feet tall by the end of the growing season, Lovage is deciduous in cold winter climates and dies down to the ground, storing energy in underground storage roots.
Lovage appreciates full to filtered sun, consistent soil moisture and performs best with companion plantings. The flavor of fresh Lovage is much like that of celery, but stronger, with hints of sweetness and anise that lend well to broth based soups, egg, potato, or pasta salads and more. Lovage seeds can also be used much like celery or caraway seed and store well dried.
Cold hardy to zone 6b and above or to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Seed packets contain approximately 20 seeds.