Plant Details

Astragalus glycyphyllos

Milk vetch, Licorice milkvetch

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Common names

34 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Licorice milkvetch[1]
  • Milk vetch
  • Wild Liquorice[1]
Other languages (23)
Dutch
  • Hokjespeul[1]
  • Hokjesspeul
French
  • Astragale réglisse[1]
  • Réglisse bâtarde
Belarusian
  • Куравай саладкалісты[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 甜叶黄耆[1]
  • 甜叶黄芪[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 甜葉黃耆[1]
Czech
  • kozinec sladkolistý[1]
Danish
  • Sød astragel[1]
Estonian
  • magus hundihammas[1]
Finnish
  • imeläkurjenherne[1]
German
  • Bärenschote[1]
  • Süßer Tragant[1]
  • Süßholz-Tragant[1]
Hungarian
  • édeslevelű csüdfű[1]
  • édeslevelű csűdfű[1]
Italian
  • Liquirizia bastarda[1]
Latvian
  • Saldlapu tragantzirnis[1]
Lithuanian
  • Saldžialapė kulkšnė[1]
Norwegian
  • lakrismjelt[1]
Polish
  • Traganek szerokolistny[1]
Portuguese
  • alcaçuz-bastardo[1]
  • astrágalo-doce[1]
  • falso-orozuz[1]
Russian
  • Астрагал солодколистный[1]
Slovak
  • kozinec sladkolistý[1]
Slovenian
  • sladki grahovec[1]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Астрагал солодколистий[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Astragalus glycyphyllos — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Wild Liquorice — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Astragale réglisse — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Bärenschote — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Süßholz-Tragant — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Süßer Tragant — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Licorice Milkvetch — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Hokjespeul — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • kozinec sladkolistý — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Sød astragel — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Астрагал солодколистный — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • lakrismjelt — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Liquirizia bastarda — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • imeläkurjenherne — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Traganek szerokolistny — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Saldžialapė kulkšnė — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • kozinec sladkolistý — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • magus hundihammas — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • 甜叶黄芪 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • alcaçuz-bastardo — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • falso-orozuz — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • astrágalo-doce — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • 甜叶黄耆 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • 甜葉黃耆 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • sötvedel — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Куравай саладкалісты — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Астрагал солодколистий — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • sladki grahovec — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • édeslevelű csűdfű — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Saldlapu tragantzirnis — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • édeslevelű csüdfű — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.
  • Dev Geven — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 158900; Astragalus glycyphyllos.

General information

Scientific name: Astragalus glycyphyllos
Accepted name (Kew): Astragalus glycyphyllos L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Astragalus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Milk vetch, Licorice milkvetch
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Spread: 0.50 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
Soil moisture:
Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Root, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

The herbs are often used to make tea. The roots are sometimes used as a substitute for licorice, but not because of the taste, only because of the texture of the roots.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 723686; name ID 2657136; Astragalus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1317079; name ID 2659600; Astragalus glycyphyllos L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Astragalus glycyphyllos

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4877382, ID HXYM: Astragalus glycyphyllos L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .