American Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
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. 451D — Glycyrrhiza lepidota
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IOverview
Overview
American Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a perennial herb native to the eastern and western United States, as well as parts of Canada. This plant thrives in moist environments with light or partial sun exposure, making it adaptable to various habitats within its range. Known for its edible qualities, American Liquorice can be enjoyed by harvesting its leaves, shoots, and roots. It prefers light (sandy) and medium soils with a pH between 5.5 and 8, and is hardy in zones 3-8. Standing at about 1 meter tall, this forb/herb is recognizable for its distinctive compound leaves and can be found growing in areas such as Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, and other regions listed above.
Quick answers
What is American Liquorice?
American Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a perennial herb native to the eastern and western United States, as well as parts of Canada. This plant thrives in moist environments with light or partial sun exposure, making it adaptable to various habitats within its range.
What is American 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 American Liquorice
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: American 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.
American Liquorice support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
American Liquorice thrives in full to partial sun and prefers moist, light (sandy) to medium soils with a pH between 5.5 and 8. It is hardy in zones 3-8 and grows as a perennial, reaching up to 1 meter in height. For propagation, gardeners can use root cuttings or seeds. The edible parts include leaves, roots, and shoots. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist for best growth.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Hardiness
3-8
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
1.0 m tall
Soil pH
5.5–8
For first-time growers
How to grow American Liquorice for the first time
8steps
Start with planting American Liquorice in a sunny spot and follow these steps for success.
- 1
What you'll need
American Liquorice seeds or root cuttings, a garden trowel, and mulch.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring after the last frost or late summer for better root establishment.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a location with light to medium soil that is moist. Amend the soil with compost if needed.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1-2 cm deep, or plant root cuttings 5-7.5 cm apart in well-draining soil.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil consistently moist and mulch around the plants to retain moisture.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly during dry spells, especially when shoots are emerging. Fertilize sparingly with compost in early spring.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead foliage and stems in late winter to encourage new growth and maintain plant health.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting too deep, neglecting to mulch, not providing enough sunlight, and over-fertilizing.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootShoots
Edible uses: The American Liquorice plant is edible and its leaves, roots, and shoots can be consumed. Typically, the root is dug up and used in teas or dried for later use. Leaves and young shoots are often eaten fresh or added to salads. Skip
Other uses:Dynamic accumulatorNitrogen fixer
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
30 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
30 native · 0 introducedDistribution across0 continents· 30 native
Broader regions
native:Massachusetts, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Manitoba, Mexico Northeast, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas
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
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