Glycyrrhiza uralensis Seeds | Licorice
LATIN NAME: Glycyrrhiza uralensis
COMMON NAME: Licorice
Plant Profile
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is an upright, perennial in the family Fabaceae, native to east Asia – China, Japan, and siberia. Licorice is root with sweet, dark, unmistakable taste. Thick, branching, sweet root under soil is licorice of old sweets, teas and traditional practice, and it has a very long and careful record of use. It is a fine, easy, long-lived plant of deep, rich, well-drained ground. In combination, these characteristics make a persuasive case for growing it.
Science & Biotechnology
Chinese liquorice, gan cao, appears in more classical Chinese formulas than any other herb, earning it the nickname ‘the great harmoniser’. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia controls it through liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid. Beyond its demulcent and expectorant uses, its flavonoids such as liquiritigenin are studied for antispasmodic and gastroprotective actions, and glycyrrhizin preparations are licensed in Japan for chronic hepatitis. Like its European cousin, chronic high-dose use inhibits 11-beta-HSD2 and can produce hypertension and hypokalaemia, so long-term unsupervised use is unwise.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis sits in Fabaceae, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Licorice has carved a quiet but solid place in plant science, and herb has been studied for a very long time for thick, sweet root and dark, unmistakable taste. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
Licorice works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Licorice does a lot of work in old households and wider world. Thick, branching, sweet root has a very long and careful record of use in old sweets, teas and traditional practice of the East and the West, and it remains a fine, steady subject of studies of sweet principles. Fine, upright herb is also an easy, long-lived plant of sunny garden, and pale-blue and violet flowers add their own quiet charm. Routine care after establishment is refreshingly light.
Liquorice root, Gan Cao, is the most-used herb in the entire Chinese pharmacopoeia, harmonizing countless formulas, and its glycyrrhizin gives both the famous sweetness and studied soothing effects on throat and stomach. European herbalism prizes it likewise, with the caveat that heavy long-term use can raise blood pressure.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Licorice, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
The medicinal tradition behind this species, outlined above, is a large part of its interest. Within its genus it stands out for garden reliability. What it needs is basic: sun, drainage, and a little patience while it establishes.
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