Licorice Plant-Helichrysum petiolatum

A selection from an unpublished manuscript, Ancient Garden Plants and Modern Garden Plants

by James K. Sayre

Licorice Plant - Helichrysum petiolatum (Helichrysum petiolare) (Gnaphalium petiolatum) - family: Asteraceae (Compositae) (Sunflower Family) (Composite Family).

[Etymology: licorice, liquorice Middle English licoris, licorice, licorys, Norman French lycorys, Old French licorece, Late Latin liquiritia, Latin glycyrrhiza, Greek glukurrhiza, glykyrriza, sweetroot, glykys, sweet + rhiza, root + plant Middle English plante, Old English plante, Latin planta, sprout, twig, slip, cutting, from plantare, to plant, "drive in with the sole of the foot," planta, sole of the foot, named for the scent of its leaves].

This is a shrubby woolly evergreen perennial plant that grows to about two feet high. It grows in low mounds with drooping trailing stems and may spread up to six feet wide. It has small green oval-shaped leaves. In the summer it produces tight clusters (terminal corymbs) of tiny whitish flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to South Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental in North America. Several cultivars exist. Cultivated as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10-11 in North America. In colder areas, it may be cultivated as an annual. Propagated by seeds, division and semi-ripe cuttings. The cultivar Limelight or Aurea has bright lime-green leaves.

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Web page last updated on 27 June 2003.