When does American licorice bloom?

American licorice typically flowers from June through August, producing small spikes of pale greenish white to yellowish blooms.

What pollinators visit American licorice?

Bees and beetles are the most common visitors to American licorice flowers, foraging on nectar and pollen during the summer bloom period.

How much water does American licorice need?

American licorice does well with moderate soil moisture but can tolerate drier spells once established, which is why it often turns up along roadsides, floodplains, and disturbed prairie ground.

What growing conditions suit American licorice best?

This forb prefers full sun to lightly shaded sites and open habitats like prairies and plains with loose, well drained soil where it can spread by rhizomes.

Is American Licorice toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag American Licorice as toxic to livestock.

Is American Licorice HOA-friendly?

American Licorice takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

American Licorice

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

Last reviewed: August 2026

American licorice is a spreading forb found in prairies, plains, and streambanks across much of the central and western United States, blooming from June through August with small greenish white flowers that attract bees and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag American Licorice as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AR, AZ, CA, CO and 27 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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American licorice is a native perennial with compound leaves and spikes of small white to yellowish flowers in summer. It forms compact clumps and spreads moderately through underground rhizomes, making it useful for naturalizing areas.

Growing American Licorice

Grow American Licorice in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

American Licorice takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Spreads by underground rhizomes and can look weedy
May appear unkempt when not in bloom
Informal growth habit doesn't suit formal landscapes

Wildlife value

The summer flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The dense growth provides shelter for small wildlife and insects.

Common questions

When does American licorice bloom?: American licorice typically flowers from June through August, producing small spikes of pale greenish white to yellowish blooms.
What pollinators visit American licorice?: Bees and beetles are the most common visitors to American licorice flowers, foraging on nectar and pollen during the summer bloom period.
How much water does American licorice need?: American licorice does well with moderate soil moisture but can tolerate drier spells once established, which is why it often turns up along roadsides, floodplains, and disturbed prairie ground.
What growing conditions suit American licorice best?: This forb prefers full sun to lightly shaded sites and open habitats like prairies and plains with loose, well drained soil where it can spread by rhizomes.
Is American Licorice toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag American Licorice as toxic to livestock.
Is American Licorice HOA-friendly?: American Licorice takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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