Ligusticum scoticum - Scottish Lovage

Family:	Umbelliferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	Northwestern Europe, including Britain, from Denmark to Norway.

Ligusticum scoticum (Scottish Lovage) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 4and is vunerable to frost.
Scottish Lovage will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Scottish Lovage will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Scottish Lovage prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Scottish Lovage should not be planted in shady areas.

Rocky coasts[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Dislikes shade. Succeeds in dry soils[238]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[238]. Scottish lovage has occasionally been cultivated as a pot herb, though it has been largely supplanted by celery[1, 4, 17]. All parts of the plant are aromatic when bruised, the aroma being likened to a mixture of parsley, angelica and pear skin[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Leaves, flowers and young shoots - raw or cooked[2, 4, 5, 100]. Strong and not very pleasant[115]. Superb in salads[172]. The leaves are usually blanched in order to make the flavour milder[61, 183], though this also reduces the nutritional value[K]. A celery-like flavour, it is used as a seasoning in salads, soups etc[183]. Another report says that the flavour is more like parsley[245]. Stem - used as a flavouring in soups, stews etc[5, 17]. A celery-like flavour[238]. The green stem is peeled and eaten[183]. Root - raw or cooked[2, 5, 161]. A sweet flavour[161]. Seed - ground into a powder and used as a flavouring in soups and stews[172, 238, 245]. A sharp, hot taste it is used in the same ways as pepper[245]. The young shoots and roots are occasionally candied like angelica[183].

• Condiment - the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The root is aromatic and carminative[4]. It is used in the treatment of hysterical and uterine disorders[4, 238]. The seeds are sweetly aromatic and have been used as a carminative, deodorant and stimulant[4, 172, 238]. They are also sometimes used for flavouring other herbal remedies[4].

• Aromatic - Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
• Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
• Deodorant - Masks smells. Is this medicinal?
• Stimulant - Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Propagation

Seed - the seed only has a short period of viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a greenhouse or cold frame[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer if they have grown large enough. Otherwise, keep them in a cold frame for the first winter and plant them out in early summer. Division of the rootstock in early spring. Make sure that each section of root has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Scented parts of the plants

Plant : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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