Liquorice, also called liquorice plant, not only provides the main ingredient for the production of the black candy. Glycyrrhiza glabra also impresses in the garden with its special leaves, the bluish flowers and its easy cultivation.
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is not only used for the production of liquorice, this plant and its roots are also of great importance in natural medicine. If you want to grow liquorice as a crop, you need patience, because mainly the root is used. But it takes about 4 years until the harvest, because the plant first has to develop enough root mass. Since the liquorice plant is very easy to care for, it is also suitable as a pure ornamental plant for many gardens. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about Glycyrrhiza glabra, for example about the cultivation of licorice or the effects of licorice root.
Licorice: taste, origin and properties
Originally, the real licorice probably comes from Southwest Asia. However, the plant has relatively low demands on climate and location, so it can be grown worldwide. In Germany, the liquorice root used to be at home in many cottage gardens and was already cultivated extensively in the Bamberg area in the 15th century. Its healing properties were already known at that time, as was the fact that the root can be used as a sweetener due to its glycyrrhizin content. For the spoiled palate of today, however, the sweetness is secondary, rather the slightly bitter, tart and the liquorice taste reminiscent of anise dominates.
Liquorice is a deciduous, perennial, herbaceous perennial that can grow to a height of 60 to 180 cm. The wood in the name of the liquorice plant is somewhat confusing, because liquorice is not really a tree. “Wood” here refers to the roots and rhizomes of the liquorice plant, which are light brown in color and very woody. The roots are primarily harvested and used. shecan reach lengths of up to 12 m and a mass of 30 to 40 kg per plant.
Liquorice belongs to the family Patricaceae (Fabaceae). This is reflected, among other things, in the butterfly-like, mostly blue-purple flowers, which can only be seen relatively late in the year between August and October. The liquorice leaves also have a very special appearance: they are pinnate, with 9 to 17 arrow-shaped pinnate leaves. This is what plant leaves are called that consist of several separate leaves.
Tip: In China, two main types of Chinese liquorice are used. The roots are mostly harvested from wild plants of the species Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. They are very similar to real liquorice in terms of appearance, growth and ingredients. However, the liquorice species Glycyrrhiza uralensis remains somewhat smaller with a growth height of about 100 cm.
Planting licorice: location, soil and co.
In our latitudes, planting liquorice usually works without any major problems, even if the plant is not native here. Licorice prefers a sunny to full sun location with loose, nutrient-rich and, above all, deep soil. The depth of the soil is of particular importance, as liquorice develops a large taproot that grows deep into the soil. Very clayey and compacted soils should therefore be enriched with plenty of sand and loose potting soil such as our nutrient-rich Plantura organic universal soil. In commercial cultivation, liquorice is grown on ridges, comparable to asparagus or potato ridges (ridge culture). If ridge culture is possible in your garden, this type of cultivation is recommended. It will make your harvest much easier later on.
Licorice seeds can be sown outdoors from the end of May. However, pre-cultivation indoors is usually more successful. If you use seeds that you have harvested yourself, you should store them in the refrigerator for two to four weeks beforehand. The seeds need a cold stimulus to germinate.
Procedure for sowing:
- Indoor sowing is possible from the end of February. Store self-harvested seeds in the refrigerator for two to four weeks beforehand. To theTo increase the germination rate, the liquorice seeds should also be soaked in water for 24 hours.
- Then the seeds can be sown in seed trays and covered thinly with soil. A deliberately low-nutrient, loose substrate such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil is suitable for this. The small plants cannot use too many nutrients well.
- Now you should put the container in a warm place around 20 °C and keep the soil constantly moist, but not too wet.
- The seeds only start to germinate after about 15 to 30 days.
If the liquorice plants are planted outdoors at the end of May, they should be given enough space. Finally, as described, liquorice develops a very strong and extensive root system with taproot and rhizomes. In our experience, a planting distance of about 50 x 50 cm is recommended.
In principle, liquorice can also be grown in tubs. These should then be really big, to give the liquorice enough space for the development of many root suckers, especially if you want to harvest the liquorice roots later. When planting purely for ornamental purposes, it is advisable to use rhizome barriers to prevent the plants from spreading over large areas.
The location requirements of liquorice at a glance:
- Sunny to full sun
- Sheltered
- Deep, loose and nutrient-rich soil
- Porous substrate, as licorice does not tolerate waterlogging
- Mounting the ridge makes harvesting easier
- Rhizome barriers prevent excessive spread
The most important care measures for the liquorice plant
Liquorice is very easy to care for. If liquorice was planted in nutrient-rich soil, fertilization in the year of planting is not necessary. In the following years, a primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer or compost can be used in spring to provide the liquorice with enough nutrients for its sprawling growth above and below ground. Typical herbal fertilizers should not be used for the liquorice plant. They usually have too high a phosphorus content for liquorice plants.
Licorice usually tolerates drought well due to its strong, deep root system. In very hot periods with little rainfall, however, even licorice needs to be watered about every two days.
Tip:If you want to grow your liquorice on dams, it makes sense to bury a drip hose in the ground. This allows water to be irrigated very evenly and in a very water-saving manner.
Liquorice can withstand temperatures down to around -17 °C, which is why the liquorice plant can be considered hardy in our latitudes. Young liquorice plants should still be covered with brushwood in cold winters. Once the winter is over, the plant can be cut back to 5 to 10 cm above the ground to allow it to sprout vigorously again.
Harvest licorice
If you want to harvest liquorice, you need a little patience. It takes at least three to four years for the liquorice plant to develop enough root mass to be able to cope well with the loss of roots after harvest. Once the plant has established itself well, it can be harvested continuously - i.e. annually. The best time to harvest licorice roots is in the fall after flowering, as that is when the roots contain the most sweeteners. It is best to harvest only secondary roots and root suckers and leave the taproot untouched. In this way, you will continue to enjoy your plant for years to come.
Licorice root: effects and uses
The list of medicinal properties attributed to licorice root is very long. The healing root was already used by the ancient Egyptians and is also one of the basic remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Among other things, the liquorice root has an expectorant and digestive effect and increases gastric juice secretion. The main areas of application are therefore nowadays as a herb against colds with coughs, stomach problems and flu infections. Licorice root tea is the most commonly used. To do this, simply pour hot water over the chopped liquorice root and let it steep for a few minutes. The liquorice tea is ready!
Liquorice contains glycyrrhizin, which is about fifty times sweeter than sugar. Nevertheless, the root cannot be considered low in calories, since licorice also contains fructose and glucose. However, the calories are not that important here, as significantly less is required compared to table sugar.
Despite the many positive effects of the liquorice plant, the use of liquorice can also have unpleasant side effects. For example, pregnant women should not eat liquorice because the root inhibits its breakdownof the body's own cortisol. While this is positive for inflammation, it can have a detrimental effect on the development of the unborn child. People with high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney problems should definitely discuss the use of licorice with their doctor, because licorice can also raise blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Liquorice is a component of many herbal and medicinal teas. In your garden you will surely find other herbs that are suitable for preparing tea. You can find interesting information about this and some example recipes in our article on the best herbal tea blends from the garden.