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Glycyrrhiza glabra – Liquorice Root

$5.00 – $15.00

Glycyrrhiza glabra ( Liquorice Root ) is a perennial legume that is native to western Asia and southern Europe. Liquorice Root is easy to grow and adds flavour to teas and is popular in tobacco products. It is also one of the most commonly used herbs in western herbal medicine. Mainly as it disguises the taste of traditional medicines. In heavy doses, the root is mildy toxic.

Suitable for Temperate and Sub-Tropical climates.

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Glycyrrhiza glabra ( Liquorice Root ) is a perennial legume that is native to western Asia and southern Europe. Liquorice Root is easy to grow and adds flavour to teas and is popular in tobacco products. It is also one of the most commonly used herbs in western herbal medicine. Mainly as it disguises the taste of traditional medicines. In heavy doses, the root is mildy toxic.

Suitable for Temperate and Sub-Tropical climates.

Liquorice is one of the most commonly used herbs in Western herbal medicine and has a very long history of use, both as a medicine and also as a flavouring to disguise the unpleasant flavour of other medications.

It was introduced to England over 500 years ago and is now successfully cultivated all over the world. Liquorice is not botanically related to fennel, star anise or anise which produce similar flavouring compounds.

Growth

Glycyrrhiza glabra is a herbaceous plant that reaches a short height of 1.5 metres (5 feet). Liquorice Root is grown mainly for its flavoursome roots which take around three years to reach harvest. Compared to most plants, they have a deep tap root (up to 120cm or 4 feet) which slows down their growth if transplanted. Sowing directly into the ground is preferable if possible.

Liquorice Root is frost tender and does not tolerate hot summers so their ideal temperature range is between 5°C to 25°C / 41 to 77°F. Slugs often attack young seedlings so a plan to prevent exposure is recommended.

Removing flowers during the first two or three seasons saves energy and nutrients for the plant to develop stronger roots. Unless seed is required, prune flowers as they bloom.

How to Harvest Liquorice Root

From the third season the roots of Liquorice plants can be harvested. To do this carefully dig the plant up, take cuttings from the largest horizontal roots and then replant. Roots can be eaten fresh or can be stored for long periods when dried.


FAMILY:

Fabaceae

CLIMATE:

Temperate, Sub-Tropical

TEMPERATURE RANGE:

5°C to 25°C / 41 to 77°F

SOIL TYPE:

Moist well draining soil types. Loamy.

LOCATION:

Full Sun or Part Shade.

HEIGHT:

Up to 1.5 metres (5 feet)

WIDTH:

Up to 1 metre (3 feet)

pH:

6.5-8.0

GROWTH TYPE:

Perennial

WATER REQUIREMENTS:

Medium

POLLINATION:

Pollinated by bees and insects

MATURITY:

2-3 years

GERMINATION RATES:

45-85%

GERMINATION TIME:

2-4 weeks (Optional stratification period of 4 weeks).

SEEDS PER GRAM:

Approximately 100

MEDICINAL QUALITIES:

Yes

WEED POTENTIAL:

No

EDIBLE:

Yes.

SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:

Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge). up to 2 years

 

FACTS ABOUT GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (Liquorice Root)

 

Liquorice Root is up to 50 times sweeter than sugar, although the taste is very different than sugar.

Liquorice root is not only used for flavouring, it has also been used for centuries for many medicinal purposes and still is today. A large portion of cultivated Liquorice goes towards tobacco flavouring.

It is possible to eat too much Liquorice! Although Liquorice has many health and medicinal benefits, it is possible to consume to much and cause unwanted side effect & toxicity. In 2020, a man died of cardiac arrest as a result of drastically low potassium levels. Apparently, for the three weeks prior he had been eating a bag of black licorice a day for three weeks.

In some countries the dried root is chewed by children as a teeth cleaner.

Weight 0.5 kg
Dimensions 26 × 16 × .5 cm
Quantity

5 Seeds, 10 Seeds, 50 Seeds, 100 Seeds, Seedling

Germination Instructions

HOW TO GROW GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (Liquorice Root)

 

Note: There are two methods for starting Liquorice Root seeds below. The first method is quite simple and can achieve quick results but lower germination rate. The second takes longer but has a higher success rate.

Seeds are best sown in mid Spring to early Summer in Cold-Temperate climates.

Seed germination peaks when temperatures are consistently between 20°C and 30°C / 68 to 86°F.

Step 1

Method 1 – Soak the seeds in water of room temperature for 24 hours. Drain the seeds and then skip to Step 3.

Method 2 – Roughly 2-4 weeks prior to sowing, place seeds into a zip lock bag with a teaspoon (for 10 seeds) of moist (not wet) soil, peat moss or vermiculite. Write the date on the bag, seal and pop it in the fridge for 2-4 weeks.

Check weekly to be sure your medium isn’t drying out.

Step 2

After the cold stratification period, remove the bag from the fridge, pour a glass of HOT tap water and pop the seeds into the water. Leave to soak for up to 24 hours to assist with scarification.

Step 3

For sowing use a nice loose sandy, compost mix and keep moist but never wet.

Sow the seeds just below the surface of the soil mix approximately 2-3mm deep.

In tropical areas with heavy rain seasons, it is best to grow Liquorice Root in a pot or in a raised garden bed with good drainage to avoid the roots staying wet.

If growing in a pot make sure it is a large and reasonably deep pot to allow the roots to spread out as they do naturally and for the tap root to also have plenty of room.

Place the pot uncovered in a bright, well lit warm spot out of direct sun.

Step 4

Germination of Liquorice Root can be a bit sporadic and although they sometimes germinate as quickly as 14 days, they can also take many months. 2-4 weeks is a pretty solid guide.

We have found that using Method 1 from Step 1, has achieved sprouts within four days! But that was during the middle of spring and in a greenhouse.

Final position should be in sandy soil in a full sun position, however the plant will tolerate part shade. Dig a 50 cm hole prior to planting outside to loosen up soil and add in coarse sand and compost if the soil is not well draining.

Liquorice Root likes plenty of water as long as the soil is not boggy, especially through the growing season (Spring-Summer).

It will not need as much water through the cooler parts of the year. In cooler regions Liquorice root will die back and go dormant until Spring when it will regrow.

Harvest in Autumn once 2-3 years old. To do this carefully dig the plant up, take cuttings from the largest horizontal roots and replant. Roots can be eaten fresh or can be stored for long periods once dried.

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