Origin: US Native
Other Common Names: American Licorice
Duration: Perennial
Bloom Time: June-July
Height: 18” to 24”
Spacing: 15” to 18”
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium to Dry
USDA Zone: 3a-10b
Germination: No pre-treatment needed. Sow seeds just below the soil surface at 70F and water.
Seeds Per Oz: 3900
The generic name of this wild licorice comes from the Greek 'glycys,' meaning sweet, and 'rhiza,' meaning root. Indeed, the roots are sweet, and can be eaten raw or cooked. When roasted, they are said to taste like sweet potatoes. While this species is not the one used in traditional North American licorice candies, it is highly valued for it's many herbal propensities. Heavily used by a number of native North American Indians, it's been known to speed along delivery of the placenta after childbirth, aid in the healing of coughs, diarrhea, chest pains, fevers in children, stomach aches, and many other things. Early settlers used it to flavor medicine, candy, root beer, and chewing tobacco. Today, it is commonly used in natural cough lozenges, and by singers. This native wild plant bears clusters of yellowish-white flowers, and blooms from May through August.
