Photo: MPFPublic domainvia Wikimedia Commons
Wild Licorice Plant Care
Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Glycyrrhiza lepidota (American licorice) is a species of Glycyrrhiza (a genus in the pea/bean family, Fabaceae) native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia, but absent from the southeastern states. It is also sometimes known in the United States as "wild licorice", to distinguish it from the related European licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) which is occasionally cultivated.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Wild Licorice?
Plant Wild Licorice in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Wild Licorice Native To?
What Is the Wild Licorice?
Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Glycyrrhiza genus. Wild Licorice is native to most of North America, from central Canada south through the United States to California, Texas and Virginia. Wild Licorice is also known as American Licorice, Lepidote Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glutinosa.
Wild Licorice displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Wild Licorice produces purple to pale blue pea-like flowers in racemes.
What Light Does the Wild Licorice Need?
Wild Licorice thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wild Licorice?
Well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Wild Licorice to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Wild Licorice?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a Wild Licorice?
Prune Wild Licorice while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Wild Licorice in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Wild Licorice?
Wild Licorice can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to licorice plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wild Licorice Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Wild Licorice, 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 Wild Licorice?
Wild Licorice is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers. 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.
Keep exploring plants
Wild Licorice 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 Glycyrrhiza genus — compare its care with other Glycyrrhiza species on PlantoScan.
Glycyrrhiza is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Wild Licorice thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Glycyrrhiza Species
Other Glycyrrhiza species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh, family Fabaceae (first published in Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 480 (1813)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Wild Licorice, 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.
- Photo: MPF, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- 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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