Known as Lovage in the UK or the "Maggi Plant" in Europe is the great lost herb of our gardens. My goal is simple: to show you why this versatile powerhouse deserves a permanent spot in, or near your vegetable garden this year.
Plant and forget crop
Lovage is the definition of low maintenance, but it does require a bit of strategic planning. Because it can skyrocket to 2 meters in a single season, it can quickly become a "garden bully," shading out smaller sun-lovers like thyme, oregano, or basil. Give it at least a meter of breathing room. While permaculture experts often suggest partial shade and deep soil, my own experience suggests it's even hardier; my 2025 seeds thrived in full sun, and the 2026 shoots have already started popping up these last few weeks and can be seen below.
(Holzer, S., 2011)
Root to seed
This isn't just a herb; it's a sustainable, zero-waste miracle. One plant occupies about a square meter and provides for the next decade. In the kitchen, it's the plant-based equivalent of nose-to-tail cooking:
The Foliage (The Herb): Looking like flat leaf parsley but tasting like celery on steroids, the leaves are a savory bomb for soups and stews. Unlike parsley, they don't lose their punch during long simmer times.
The Seeds (The Spice): After the yellow, dill-like flowers bloom, you’re left with ridged brown seeds. They offer a warm, slightly bitter umami hit, perfect for meat rubs or your spice cupboard.
The Root (The Vegetable): This is the secret modern gardeners forget. In the second or third year, harvest the thick taproot. It’s a starchy, nutty vegetable that is incredible when roasted alongside your potatoes and carrots.
Tip for the bar
The stems are hollow! Use them as a natural, savoury straw for a Bloody Mary (ideally with your own home-grown tomato juice). It’s a decorative, edible finish that can be a great conversation starter.
The natural pesticide
Lovage is a powerhouse for pest management. Its intense, celery-like aroma acts as a natural deterrent, masking the scent of more vulnerable crops and confusing pests like aphids and carrot flies. However, its greatest strength lies in its flowers; the large yellow umbels are a magnet for beneficial insects, specifically hoverflies, lacewings, and predatory wasps. These insects lay their eggs near the lovage, and their larvae then devour massive quantities of common pests across your entire vegetable patch.
To maximize this effect, plant lovage near potatoes (where it is said to improve health and flavour) or alongside tomatoes and asparagus, as they share similar soil requirements and benefit from the lovage’s protective aromatic shield.
Content has been drafted by a human and rewritten by AI. E&OE