African lovage Plant Care
Afroligusticum elliotii (Engl.) C.Norman
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
This plant features large, glossy, dark green leaves with striking silver veins running throughout. Hailing from South Africa, the Afroligusticum elliotii is highly sought after by plant collectors for its unique foliage and ability to thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Every 5–7 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for African lovage?
Water African lovage every 5–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the African lovage Native To?
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the African lovage?
African lovage (Afroligusticum elliotii) belongs to the Apiaceae family within the Afroligusticum genus. African lovage is native to bamboo forests in west Tropical Africa.
African lovage displays a tall, upright herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. African lovage produces small clusters of white or pink umbels.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a African lovage?
Afroligusticum elliotii requires watering every 5–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 5–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the African lovage Need?
African lovage thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the African lovage Prefer?
Afroligusticum elliotii grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. African lovage prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a African lovage?
Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for African lovage to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a African lovage?
Feed African lovage every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a African lovage?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a African lovage?
African lovage can be propagated through seeds, division of root ball.
Is the African lovage Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list African lovage, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the African lovage?
African lovage is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the African lovage Need?
African lovage grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. African lovage is native to bamboo forests in west Tropical Africa. In cooler regions, grow African lovage as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
African lovage is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Afroligusticum genus — compare its care with other Afroligusticum species on PlantoScan.
Afroligusticum is part of the Apiaceae plant family — browse all Apiaceae genera and species.
African lovage thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Afroligusticum elliotii (Engl.) C.Norman, family Apiaceae (first published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 49: 516 (1934)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list African lovage, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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