Wild Licorice (Note: This plant is a Legume, not a true grass)
Glycyrrhiza lepidota · Perennial Forb; C3 photosynthetic pathway; warm-season growth profile
Grass Family
Fabaceae (Legume Family); Not a member of Poaceae
Grass Category
Native Prairie Forb / Pasture Legume
Variety / Cultivar
Native Wild Type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; highly cold tolerant; goes dormant in winter with stems dying back to the ground.
About This Grass
An upright perennial herb growing 1-3 feet tall; features terminal racemes of cream-white flowers and pinnately compound leaves; matures into reddish-brown prickly seed pods.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are pinnately compound with 11-19 lanceolate leaflets; leaflets are 1-2 inches long, light green, with smooth margins and sticky glands on the underside; no ligule or auricles as found in grasses.
Root System
Extremely deep woody taproot and long creeping rhizomes; very slow to establish but exceptionally drought-hardy and stable once mature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
North America; widespread across central and western regions
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous; forms extensive underground colonies with deep, woody taproots
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate to low water needs; high drought tolerance; thrives in well-drained loamy to sandy soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Not a lawn grass; do not mow frequently as it will deplete rhizome energy; low maintenance; may require control if it invades turf areas.
Special Characteristics
Fixes nitrogen in soil; high salt tolerance; deer resistant; identifies closely with prairie restoration and erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Native to North America; high wildlife value for pollinators (bees/butterflies); larval host for several lepidoptera; deep roots provide excellent soil stabilization.