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Herbaceous

Lovage

Levisticum officinale

Perennial with edible leaves, stems, seeds, roots. Thrives in OK once established; afternoon shade helps in summer

EdibleMedicinal
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun + Part shade
WaterMedium water
System layerHerbaceous
Plant typePerennial
Plant spacing24-36 in apart
Mature size4-6 ft / 2-3 ft
Chill hours1000-1500
Soil pH6.0-7.0
HarvestMar–Oct
Expected yieldContinuous (greens)
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Thrives in OK once established; afternoon shade helps in summer

Disease resistance

Excellent

Pruning

Cut back after flowering; divide every 3-5 years

Care

Celery-like flavor; all parts edible; excellent soup herb

Drought tolerance

Moderate; consistent moisture improves performance

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile; propagate by seed or division
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Common Lovage (species)

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Attractor; Medicinal

Edible parts

Leaves, Stems, Seeds, Roots

Companion plants

Fennel, Fruit trees

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile; propagate by seed or division; Companions: Fennel, Fruit trees

Food-forest layer

Herbaceous

Oklahoma classification

Primary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 6.0-7.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Spring compost tea; minimal

Maintenance

Cut back after flowering; divide every 3-5 years

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.