Licorice Plant

Do not confuse it with the sweet herbal licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, which has confectionery and medicinal uses.

The Helichrysum petiolare is a poisonous plant used only for landscaping, not ingestion. It is generally grown as an annual in the United States.

It produces long stems of multiple furry, silvery, heart-shaped leaves. There are varieties with leaf colorations from cream, yellow and chartreuse.

In the landscape, the silver variety showcases blue, purple and white flowering plants, while the cream and yellow varieties are stunning mixed with oranges and reds.

The plant forms a soft mounding shrub in the ground, and trails when grown in hanging pots, spreading to almost 2 feet.

Though it doesn't generally produce flowers, it stays green throughout the summer and can produce cream colored heads late in the season.

These are generally trimmed off before forming, to keep the plant lush and green.

All parts of this plant are toxic, so gloves should be worn during planting to avoid an allergic skin reaction. Extra care should also be taken when planting to avoid contact with children and pets.

Planting and Care

Helichrysum petiolare prefers a sunny location, but some varieties are tolerant of light shade.

The plant is drought tolerant and prefers well-drained potting soil. It is an easy-care plant, requiring only routine watering and fertilizing.

In the heat of summer, the plant will wilt if it becomes dry, but watering will quickly revive it. It's a signal that your hanging pots probably all need water when this plant wilts.

The licorice plant is especially useful as a groundcover on slopes, as it reaches 2 feet quickly, trailing over rocks and filling in bare spaces. Allow two feet of space between multiple plantings to allow room for growth.

The plant is deer resistant, making it a good choice for borders along the edge of a wooded area. The plant is attractive to butterflies as a feeding plant, but the larvae can damage the plant.

Watch for infestations and control them before the plant becomes unsightly, or choose to let it be a feeding ground for the butterflies.

Propagating

Since the plant is treated as annual in most regions, it will die off with frost. To propagate the plant for next season, you can root cuttings in late summer to early fall.

Keep the cuttings in water in a cool, bright room over the winter and they will be ready to plant in the spring.

If used in an area where contact can be avoided, this licorice plant is an attractive and unique plant for container and landscape gardening. It fills in quickly, adding a distinctive silvery hue to the garden.