Wild Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza echinata
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
Pl. 5420 — Glycyrrhiza echinata
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IOverview
Overview
Wild Liquorice, scientifically known as Glycyrrhiza echinata, is a perennial plant native to regions including Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, and Kazakhstan. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, prefers moist conditions, and grows well in light (sandy) to medium soil types. Hardy from zones 7-10, it can reach heights of about 1 meter. Known for its edible roots, Wild Liquorice is valued for its sweet taste and has been used historically as a natural sweetener. One distinctive feature of this plant is its ability to grow in diverse climates across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, making it adaptable to various environmental conditions.
Quick answers
What is Wild Liquorice?
Wild Liquorice, scientifically known as Glycyrrhiza echinata, is a perennial plant native to regions including Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, and Kazakhstan. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, prefers moist conditions, and grows well in light (sandy) to medium soil types.
What is Wild Liquorice used for?
Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Wild Liquorice
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Wild Liquorice appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a tea. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Wild Liquorice support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Wild Liquorice thrives in full to partial sun and prefers moist, well-draining soil that is light (sandy) or medium. It is hardy in zones 7-10 and can grow up to 1 meter tall. For propagation, gardeners can use root cuttings. Harvest the edible roots for culinary uses.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Hardiness
7-10
Life cycle
Perennial
Mature size
1.0 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Wild Liquorice for the first time
8steps
Start with planting Wild Liquorice in a sunny spot and follow these beginner-friendly steps.
- 1
What you'll need
Wild Liquorice root, garden gloves, trowel.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring or early fall when the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a location with light to partial sun. Ensure the soil is well-draining, sandy or medium-textured.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Transplant young plants from nursery pots into your garden bed. Space them about 30-45 cm apart.
- 5
First two weeks
Water the transplants regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- 6
Ongoing care
Wild Liquorice prefers moist soil, so water it when the top inch of soil feels dry. Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead foliage in late winter to encourage new growth and maintain plant health.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in heavy soil, neglecting to mulch.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:Root
Edible uses: Sweetener, Tea
Other uses:Dynamic accumulatorNitrogen fixer
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
20 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
20 native · 0 introducedDistribution across2 continents· 20 native
Europe6 regions
native (6)BulgariaGreeceHungaryRomaniaRussiaUkraine
Asia5 regions
native (5)IranKazakhstanPalestineTurkeyTurkmenistan
Broader regions
native:East Aegean Is., Lebanon-Syria, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
Back to the cataloguePlant id · 5420e0b4-d71e-4d17-a5a7-05d384e07be5
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