[1][2] It has been long cultivated in Europe and the leaves are used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine.

[5] The name "lovage" is from "love-ache", ache being a medieval name for parsley; this is a folk-etymological modification of the older French name levesche, from late Latin levisticum, in turn thought to be a modification of the earlier Latin ligusticum, 'of Liguria' (northwest Italy), where the herb was grown extensively.

[6] Levisticum officinale is native to Afghanistan and Iran,[7] but has been introduced to most of Europe, and parts of Southeast Asia, North and South America.

[7] It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine.

[15] A recommendation to cultivate lovage on the agricultural properties of Charlemagne appears in chapter 70 of Capitulare de villis, a text written around 800 AD about the maintenance of royal estates.