Plant Details

Smyrnium olusatrum

Alexanders, black lovage

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Common names

25 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Alexanders[1][2]
  • Alisanders[2]
  • black lovage
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Horse Parsley[2]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Zwartmoeskervel[2]
French
Catalan
  • aleixandri[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Finnish
  • aleksanterinsiipiputki[2]
German
Greek
  • Αγριοσέλινο[2]
  • Σμύρνιο το Μελανοσέλινο[2]
Hebrew
  • מורית גדולה[2]
Irish
  • Lusrán grándubh[2]
Italian
  • Corinoli comune[2]
  • Smirnio comune[2]
Polish
  • przewłoka warzywna[2]
Portuguese
  • Aipo-dos-cavalos[2]
Russian
  • Смирния европейская[2]
Slovak
  • smyrnium čiernoplodé[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • alexanderloka[2]
Turkish
  • delikereviz[2]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Smyrnium olusatrum L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Alexanders (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138788; taxon 4XY7Y.
  • Gespenst-Gelbdolde (DE); Apio caballar (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138789; taxon 4XY7Y.
[2] Smyrnium olusatrum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Alexanders — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Alisanders — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Horse Parsley — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Aipo-dos-cavalos — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • מורית גדולה — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Maceron — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Corinoli comune — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Gespenst-Gelbdolde — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Smirnio comune — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Zwartmoeskervel — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Αγριοσέλινο — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Σμύρνιο το Μελανοσέλινο — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Смирния европейская — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • alexanderloka — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • aleixandri — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • delikereviz — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Lusrán grándubh — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Apio caballar — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • przewłoka warzywna — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • Dulys — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • aleksanterinsiipiputki — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • 美味芹 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • 马芹 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.
  • smyrnium čiernoplodé — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 68007; Smyrnium olusatrum.

General information

Scientific name: Smyrnium olusatrum
Accepted name (Kew): Smyrnium olusatrum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Apiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Smyrnium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Alexanders, black lovage
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 0.70 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Condiment, Root, Stem
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Leaves and young shoots of this plant can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews. The plant grows in the autumn, and the leaves are often available in the winter. They have a strong flavor similar to celery and are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before being used. The leaf seedlings can serve as a substitute for parsley. The stems can be eaten both raw and cooked and have a taste somewhat like celery but are sharper. The stems are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before being used. The flower buds can be eaten raw and added to salads for a celery-like flavor. The spicy seeds of the plant are used as a substitute for pepper. The root must be cooked and is often used in soups, having a flavor somewhat similar to celery.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/03
Harvest ends: 30/04

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 206326; name ID 2473906; Smyrnium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 206172; name ID 2473605; Smyrnium olusatrum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Smyrnium olusatrum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1233864, ID 4XY7Y: Smyrnium olusatrum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .