Liquorice Root Plant – 5 Seeds

Liquorice Root Plant Seeds. Liquorice Root Plant, (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb of the pea family (Fabaceae), and it is used in flavoring, confection, and folk medicine made from its roots. Licorice is similar to anise (Pimpinella anisum) in flavor; both plants are somewhat sweet and slightly bitter. The Greek name glykyrrhiza, of which the word licorice is a corruption, means “sweet root.” Native to southern Europe, licorice is mainly cultivated around the Mediterranean and in parts of the United States.

It is a perennial herb that grows to over a meter tall. It is cultivated for its roots. Roots grow 1 – 1.2 m deep and can extend to 10 m in a deep, permeable soil. Growing licorice in container is however also possible.

The roots used are about 1 metre long and about 1 cm  in diameter. They are soft, fibrous, and flexible and are colored bright yellow inside. The distinctive sweetness of licorice is imparted by a substance called glycyrrhizin.

Liquorice Root Plant Medicinal Benefits

• Licorice is an ingredient in cough lozenges, syrups, and elixirs.
• It is a flavoring agent in candies and tobacco.
• The roots are ground and then boiled to form a juice; the pliable stick form of licorice candy, also called licorice paste or black sugar, is processed from this thickened juice.
• Licorice root is used to soothe gastrointestinal problems.
• In cases of food poisoning, stomach ulcers, and heartburn, licorice root extract can speed the repair of stomach lining and restore balance. This is due to the anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties of glycyrrhizic acid.
• Licorice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and other natural practices for centuries.
• Glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin, and glabridin are just some of the active substances in licorice that have powerful antiviral properties.
• Test-tube studies demonstrate that licorice root extract is effective against HIV, RSV, herpes viruses, and severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which causes a serious type of pneumonia.

Growing Liquorice Root Plant

Indoor Sowing: Cold Stratification and then transplant when big enough.

Direct Sowing: Autumn and Winter.

• For indoor Sowing, first cold stratify the seeds for 30 days.
• After the cold stratification period, soak the seeds for at least 24 hours in lukewarm water.
• Then sow seeds in seed starting mix. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1/2 inch.
• Cover the seeds with soil and keep it evenly moist until the seeds germinate.
• Optimum germination ranges around 20 C.
• Germination can take place anything from a few weeks to 1 year, so patience is required.
• Leave space of 2 feet between each plant.
• Licorice roots are ready for harvest after two years of planting.
• Harvest the plant in autumn.
• Extract the horizontal roots with a sharp spade and replant the plant so that it will regrow again.
• Preserve the main roots so as not to damage the plant.