Wild Licorice, Culinary & Medicinal Herbs,
Licorice Herb Seeds (Glycyrrhiza lepidota). The root of this plant is what is used to make the candy Licorice, and it has a flavor that is reminiscent of fennel, anise, and star anise. Licorice is a member of the Pea family. It grows to 16-40 inches tall and has long, tough brown roots that are sweet and were used as food and medicinally by Native Americans. In addition to having a sweet licorice flavor, licorice roots benefit health with medicinal properties. It is also used in traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Greek medicines.
American Licorice is not sweet from sugar but from about 6% glycyrrhizin content, which is 50 times sweeter than sugar. The tender young shoots can be eaten raw in the spring, and the root can be chewed and used as flavoring, making it a great teeth cleaner. Slow-roasted, it will taste similar to a sweet potato.
It is also suitable for beneficial insects, so it will also improve your gardens. Many herbs offer benefits like nutrient accumulators and nitrogen attractors that will make your plants healthier.
Pkt Size/Approx. Seeds
0.25mg/30+ seeds
•Perennial
•Heirloom
•GMO-Free
•Open-Pollinated
•Bee Friendly
•Butterfly Friendly
•USDA Zones 4-11
•Days to Germination: 14-21
Planting Tips:
Before planting, pour 180 degrees F water over the seed and let it soak overnight. Direct sow the treated seed 1/4" deep in late fall or early spring. To start the seed indoors, sow seeds in a flat or individual peat pots 6-8 weeks before the last frost; keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees F until germination, which usually occurs within two weeks. When the weather has warmed, and the seedlings are well established, transplant them outdoors. Keep the soil moist as the seedlings develop. This plant prefers moist, sandy soil. It grows relatively slowly at first because of its extensive root system, which takes much of its energy in the first stages of growth.