Wild Licorice

Scientific name

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

Description

Wild Licorice is a perennial plant which can reach heights up to 1 m. This plant may also be known by common names American Licorice, Licorice-root, and Dessert Root. Wild Licorice has compound leaves arranged opposite along the stem, with 11-19 leaflets. Leaflets are tapering to pointed, with entire margins, and are dotted with glands on the undersides. Flowers are pea-shaped and occur in a cylindrical spike cluster from the leaf axils. The flowers are white, cream, or pale yellow, with a long upper petal and bloom between June and July. Wild Licorice has a deep root system, which is beneficial for erosion control. The seeds are beneficial for wildlife species, such as birds and small mammals.

Planting conditions

Wild Licorice grows best in normal to moist conditions and prefers full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in soil made up of rich, well-drained sandy loam. It is a nitrogen fixing plant and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including infertile soil. It can be found naturally along roadsides, streams, lakes, and disturbed areas.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 1 m
• Spread:
  • 0.5 m