Fabaceae
American licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
Also known as Wild licorice, Glycyrrhiza glutinosa, Liquiritia lepidota, Glycyrrhiza lepidota var. glutinosa
Flowering Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Native Perennial · Licorice · Medicinal Herb · Prairie · Rhizomatous · Ground Cover · Pollinator · Edible Root · Fabaceae
American licorice is a hardy native perennial that prefers full sun to part shade and consistently moist, loamy soil. Its spreading rhizomes make it an excellent ground cover for naturalized areas, though it can spread aggressively so give it space or use root barriers. The roots have a mild licorice flavor and have been used traditionally by Native American peoples for medicinal and food purposes.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly to keep soil consistently moist, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- White
- Foliage
- Green · Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Manitoba, Masachusettes, Mexico Northeast, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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