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Herbaceous

Licorice Root

Glycyrrhiza glabra / lepidota

Perennial with edible roots. G.

NativeEdibleMedicinal
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterLow–medium water
System layerHerbaceous
Plant typePerennial
Plant spacing24-36 in apart
Mature size3-5 ft / spreading by runners
Chill hours0-500
Soil pH6.0-8.0
HarvestRoots: Year 3+
Expected yieldRoots harvest yr 3+
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

G. lepidota is native to OK and extremely drought tolerant

Disease resistance

Excellent

Pruning

Dig roots every 3-4 years; remove runners to control spread

Care

Native licorice is adapted to Oklahoma prairies; roots harvested in fall

Drought tolerance

Moderate to high once established

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Native Licorice (G. lepidota)Common Licorice (G. glabra)

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible (roots); Attractor; Nitrogen Fixer; Medicinal

Edible parts

Roots

Companion plants

Fruit trees, Comfrey

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile; Companions: Fruit trees, Comfrey

Food-forest layer

Herbaceous

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 6.0-8.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Spring compost tea; minimal

Maintenance

Dig roots every 3-4 years; remove runners to control spread

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.