Plant Details

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Cultivated licorice

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, harvest period and uses of Glycyrrhiza glabra.

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Common names

36 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Liquorice[1]
  • Liquorice Root[1]
  • Sweetwood[1]
Other languages (23)
Dutch
  • Zoethout[1]
  • Zoethoutplant
  • Zoethoutwortel
French
  • Réglisse cultivée
  • Réglisse glabre[1]
Afrikaans
  • soethout[1]
  • Soethoutwortel[1]
Arabic
Catalan
  • Regalèssia[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 光果甘草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 光果甘草[1]
Czech
  • lékořice lysá[1]
Finnish
  • lakritsikasvi[1]
German
  • Gewöhnliches Süßholz[1]
Hebrew
  • שוש קירח[1]
Hungarian
  • igazi édesgyökér[1]
Italian
  • Liquirizia[1]
Polish
  • Lukrecja gładka[1]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Лакрица[1]
  • Солодка голая[1]
Slovak
  • sladké drievko hladkoplodé[1]
Slovenian
  • golostebelni sladki koren[1]
Thai
  • ชะเอมเทศ[1]
Turkish
  • Tatlı Meyan[1]
Ukrainian
  • Солодка гола[1]
Zulu
  • Mlomo-mnandi[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] Glycyrrhiza glabra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • cultivated licorice — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • licorice — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Liquorice — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Liquirizia — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Réglisse glabre — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • lékořice lysá — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • alcaçuz — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • lakritsikasvi — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Лакрица — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • سوس — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • عرقسوس — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • 光果甘草 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • 光果甘草 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Gewöhnliches Süßholz — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • ชะเอมเทศ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Lemn dulce — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • răculeț — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • soethout — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Soethoutwortel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Drop — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Liquorice Root — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Sweetwood — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Mlomo-mnandi — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • golostebelni sladki koren — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Солодка гола — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Lukrecja gładka — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • igazi édesgyökér — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Солодка голая — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • שוש קירח — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Zoethout — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Tatlı Meyan — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • sladké drievko hladkoplodé — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.
  • Regalèssia — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 77295; Glycyrrhiza glabra.

General information

Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Accepted name (Kew): Glycyrrhiza glabra L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3] [4]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

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

Sources [3]
Also known as: Cultivated licorice
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Arching, Clumping, Mounding, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Fibre

Description

Glycyrrhiza glabra is a perennial plant whose roots are used as a flavouring and source of licorice extract. Glycyrrhizin-containing products can cause serious adverse effects, including abnormal heart rhythm, especially with prolonged or high intake and in susceptible people.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Glycyrrhiza glabra (Black Sugar, Common licorice, Licorice, Liquorice (UK), Mulaith, Sweetwood) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. US NIH, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Safety; glycyrrhizin and heart effects

    Source checked on .

  3. 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 802041; name ID 2827696; Glycyrrhiza Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1401337; name ID 2827728; Glycyrrhiza glabra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  4. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Glycyrrhiza glabra

    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 273738, ID 3GFQT: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .