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Canby'S Licorice-Root

Ligusticum canbyi

Last reviewed: June 2026

Canby'S Licorice-Root (Ligusticum canbyi)
Photo: Thayne Tuason / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

ID, MT, OR, WA and 1 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies, beetles

Canby's licorice-root is a native perennial with delicate, fern-like foliage and small white flower clusters. This compact wildflower grows in neat clumps and blooms throughout summer, creating an elegant natural appearance in partial shade gardens.

In an HOA neighborhood

Canby'S Licorice-Root 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.

  • Appears too wild and weedy for most HOA standards
  • Lacks the formal structure expected in maintained landscapes
  • May be mistaken for an undesirable weed by neighbors

Wildlife value

The summer flowers attract diverse pollinators including native bees, beneficial flies, and beetles. Its extended bloom period provides consistent nectar sources during peak growing season.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Canby'S Licorice-Root fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.