How to Grow and Care for Licorice Plants Like a Pro

Note: This guide focuses on the ornamental licorice plant, Helichrysum petiolare, the silvery trailing foliage plant often used in containers, borders, hanging baskets, and warm-climate landscapes. It is not the same as true edible licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, the plant grown for sweet roots used in candy, teas, and herbal products. In other words, do not plant ornamental licorice expecting a snack. Your garden will look fabulous, but your candy jar will remain empty.

Licorice plant is one of those rare garden characters that looks expensive, behaves politely with minimal care, and still manages to steal attention from louder flowering plants. With soft, fuzzy, silver-gray leaves and a trailing habit that spills beautifully over pots, walls, and baskets, Helichrysum petiolare is a favorite among gardeners who want texture, contrast, drought tolerance, and a plant that does not demand a dramatic weekly meeting.

Grown as a tender perennial in USDA Zones 9 to 11 and as an annual in colder regions, licorice plant is especially useful where heat, sun, and dry spells make fussier ornamentals faint like Victorian poets. It is not grown for showy flowers. The tiny white or cream blooms are usually insignificant, and many gardeners remove them so the plant can focus on its best feature: that soft, velvety foliage that makes every container look more professionally designed.

What Is a Licorice Plant?

Ornamental licorice plant is a woody-based, trailing evergreen perennial native to parts of southern Africa. In warm climates, it may grow as a small subshrub, often spreading wider than it grows tall. In most U.S. gardens outside frost-free areas, it is treated as a warm-season annual. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, it may reach around 6 to 12 inches tall in seasonal containers, while its stems can trail 18 inches, 3 feet, or even more when it is truly happy.

The common name comes from the faint licorice-like scent released by the foliage, especially in warm weather. The leaves are rounded to oval, soft, slightly woolly, and typically silver-gray or gray-green. Some cultivars offer chartreuse, variegated, or creamy-white foliage, giving gardeners several ways to brighten dark corners, soften bold flower colors, or create that “I definitely hired a landscape designer” effect without actually hiring one.

Quick Growing Profile

How to Grow Licorice Plants Successfully

Choose the Right Location

Licorice plant performs best in a bright location with full sun to part shade. In many regions, at least 6 hours of sun helps produce compact growth and the best silver foliage color. In hot inland climates, especially where afternoon sun feels like it has personal issues, a bit of afternoon shade can prevent stress and leaf scorch.

If the plant receives too little light, it may become leggy, floppy, and less colorful. The silver tone can fade, and the stems may stretch in search of brighter conditions. A plant that looks like it is reaching for better life choices is usually asking for more sun.

Give It Excellent Drainage

Drainage is the secret handshake of licorice plant care. This plant tolerates poor soil better than soggy soil. In fact, wet, heavy, poorly drained ground is one of the easiest ways to ruin an otherwise easy plant. Root rot becomes a major concern when roots sit in waterlogged soil for too long.

For garden beds, loosen compacted soil and mix in compost if the soil is extremely poor, but avoid turning the bed into a moisture-holding sponge. For containers, use a quality potting mix that drains freely. A pot must have drainage holes. Decorative cachepots without holes may look elegant, but they can turn into tiny root-swamps with excellent branding.

Water Wisely

Licorice plant is drought tolerant once established, but that does not mean newly planted specimens should be ignored. Water young plants regularly until roots settle into the surrounding soil or potting mix. After that, allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before watering again.

In containers, check moisture more often during hot weather. Hanging baskets and small pots dry quickly, especially in wind. The goal is evenly moist but never soggy soil. If leaves wilt slightly during a hot afternoon but recover by evening, the plant is probably coping. If stems collapse and the soil smells sour, overwatering may be the villain.

Fertilize Lightly

Licorice plant is not a heavy feeder. Too much fertilizer can encourage long, floppy growth and reduce the tidy, dense look gardeners love. At planting time, a little compost or a slow-release balanced fertilizer is usually enough for the season. In containers, a diluted liquid feed every few weeks can help, but keep it modest.

Think of fertilizer as seasoning, not soup. A little improves the result; too much creates a problem nobody ordered.

Planting Licorice Plant in Containers

Containers are where licorice plant truly earns its reputation. Its trailing stems make it a classic “spiller” in the thriller-filler-spiller design formula. Pair it with upright plants such as salvia, canna, ornamental grasses, angelonia, coleus, or compact dahlias. Then let licorice plant tumble over the rim like a silver waterfall with excellent manners.

Use a container at least 10 to 12 inches wide for a mixed planting, larger if you want the licorice plant to stretch out. Give it room. Vigorous varieties can weave through neighboring plants, which is charming until it becomes botanical arm wrestling. Place it near the edge of the pot so the stems can cascade rather than crowd the center.

Best Container Companions

Licorice plant pairs beautifully with purple, blue, pink, white, and deep burgundy flowers. The silver foliage cools down hot color combinations and makes pastel schemes look more polished. Try it with petunias, calibrachoa, fan flower, verbena, lantana, sweet potato vine, Persian shield, or bronze-leaf begonias. For a modern look, combine silver licorice plant with white flowers and dark foliage. It is simple, dramatic, and far easier than pretending you enjoy weeding.

Growing Licorice Plant in Garden Beds

In beds and borders, licorice plant works well as an edging plant, soft ground cover, or trailing accent over stones and retaining walls. Because it spreads outward, space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart, depending on the cultivar. In warm climates where it survives year-round, keep an eye on its spread and trim as needed.

In parts of coastal California and other mild areas, ornamental licorice plant has been reported as escaping cultivation, so gardeners in frost-free regions should avoid dumping cut stems in natural areas and should manage spreading plants responsibly. In colder regions, winter usually handles population control with icy efficiency.

Pruning and Maintenance

Licorice plant benefits from light pruning during the growing season. Trim back long stems to maintain shape, encourage fuller growth, and prevent it from swallowing smaller neighbors. Use clean pruners or scissors and remove no more than one-third of the plant at a time unless you are correcting serious sprawl.

If flowers appear, you can leave them for pollinators or remove them to keep the plant focused on foliage. The flowers are small and not especially ornamental, so removing them is common. This is one plant where the leaves are the main performance and the flowers are mostly backup dancers.

How to Propagate Licorice Plant

Licorice plant can be propagated from cuttings, which is often the easiest method for home gardeners. In late summer or early fall, take 3- to 6-inch cuttings from healthy, non-flowering stems. Remove the lower leaves, place the cuttings in a sterile, well-draining medium, and keep them lightly moist in bright, indirect light. Rooting hormone can help, though it is not always necessary.

Once roots develop, gradually acclimate the young plants to brighter light. In cold climates, rooted cuttings can be overwintered indoors near a bright window or under grow lights. This is a smart way to save a favorite variety instead of buying the same plant again next spring and pretending it was your plan all along.

Some licorice plants can be grown from seed, but many ornamental cultivars do not come true from seed. If you want the exact same silver, chartreuse, or variegated look, cuttings are more reliable.

Overwintering Licorice Plant

In Zones 9 to 11, licorice plant may survive outdoors as a perennial if planted in well-drained soil and protected from unusual cold snaps. In colder climates, frost will usually kill outdoor plants. To overwinter, bring container plants indoors before the first frost or root cuttings in late summer.

Indoors, place the plant in the brightest spot available. A sunny window or grow light is ideal. Water sparingly, because growth slows during winter and soggy soil becomes more dangerous. Expect the plant to look less glamorous indoors. That is normal. Most overwintered plants are not auditioning for a magazine cover in February; they are simply surviving until spring.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Root Rot

Root rot is the most common serious problem. Symptoms may include wilting despite wet soil, yellowing leaves, blackened stems near the base, and an unpleasant smell from the potting mix. Improve drainage immediately, reduce watering, and remove affected sections. If the plant is badly damaged, take healthy cuttings before the whole plant declines.

Leggy Growth

Leggy stems usually mean too much shade, too much fertilizer, or both. Move the plant to brighter light and trim it back lightly. Avoid heavy feeding, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizer.

Poor Silver Color

Licorice plant develops its best silver tone in strong light. If the foliage looks dull or greenish, increase sun exposure gradually. Do not move a shade-grown plant into blazing sun overnight, or the leaves may scorch.

Pests

Licorice plant is generally low-maintenance, but pests such as whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars, slugs, and snails may appear. Rinse small pests off with water, prune badly affected growth, and use insecticidal soap when needed. Check the undersides of leaves, because pests apparently enjoy hiding like they owe rent.

Fungal Issues

High humidity, poor air circulation, and wet foliage can invite fungal problems. Water at the soil level rather than overhead, avoid crowding plants, and give containers room for air to move through the foliage.

Licorice Plant vs. True Licorice

Because the names are similar, gardeners often confuse ornamental licorice plant with true licorice. Ornamental licorice plant, Helichrysum petiolare, is grown for fuzzy foliage and landscape texture. True licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a herbaceous perennial legume grown for its sweet roots. True licorice requires deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil and is managed very differently from ornamental licorice plant.

If your goal is container beauty, choose ornamental licorice plant. If your goal is harvesting licorice root, research Glycyrrhiza glabra separately and be aware that licorice root products may have health risks when consumed in large amounts. The two plants share a name and a scent association, not a care routine.

Pro Tips for Growing Licorice Plants Like a Pro

First, treat drainage as non-negotiable. If you remember only one thing, remember this: licorice plant would rather be a little dry than constantly wet. Second, use it where texture matters. It can make ordinary annuals look curated because the silver foliage creates contrast, movement, and softness. Third, do not overfeed it. The plant already grows vigorously in good conditions, and too much fertilizer can make it lanky.

Fourth, trim before it becomes a jungle. A small haircut every few weeks is easier than a rescue mission in August. Fifth, use cuttings as insurance. If you love a particular variety, root a few stems before fall. Gardening confidence increases dramatically when you have backup plants.

Real-World Experience: What Growing Licorice Plant Teaches You

After growing licorice plant in mixed containers, window boxes, and sunny border edges, one lesson becomes clear: this plant rewards restraint. New gardeners often want to love plants aggressively with extra water, extra fertilizer, and extra attention. Licorice plant politely declines all three. It grows best when you set it up correctly, give it light and drainage, and then resist the urge to fuss over it like a nervous stage parent.

In a mixed summer container, licorice plant often starts slowly for the first couple of weeks. Then, once temperatures rise and roots settle in, it suddenly begins to stretch. The stems spill over the pot, curl around neighboring plants, and create that soft, professional-looking edge that makes a container feel finished. This is why it is so valuable in patio design. Flowers provide color, but foliage provides structure. Licorice plant is the quiet stylist making everyone else look better.

One practical experience is that spacing matters more than expected. A small nursery plant may look innocent in April or May, but by midsummer it can become broad and enthusiastic. If planted too close to delicate companions, it may shade them or physically crowd them. Strong partners such as petunias, angelonia, lantana, coleus, sweet potato vine, and ornamental peppers tend to hold their own better than tiny, slow-growing annuals.

Watering is another area where experience beats guesswork. In a large container with good potting mix, licorice plant may need regular water during hot spells, but it still dislikes sitting wet. The best method is to check the soil with a finger rather than watering on autopilot. If the top inch feels dry, water thoroughly until water drains out of the bottom. If it still feels damp, leave it alone. The plant will not send a thank-you card for unnecessary watering.

Pruning also becomes easier with practice. At first, cutting back a healthy trailing stem feels wrong, almost rude. But trimming encourages a fuller plant and keeps the design balanced. The best time to prune is before the plant looks messy. Snip long stems just above a leaf node, remove any tired or damaged growth, and step back. The plant usually responds with fresh side shoots and a denser habit.

Overwintering teaches another useful lesson: indoor survival is not the same as indoor beauty. A licorice plant brought indoors may drop leaves, stretch, or look thin by late winter. That does not mean you failed. Low winter light is difficult for many sun-loving outdoor plants. Keep it on the dry side, provide as much light as possible, and take fresh cuttings in spring if the original plant looks tired. Sometimes the smartest gardening move is not saving the old plant perfectly, but saving its genetics well enough to start again.

Finally, licorice plant is a reminder that great gardens are not built only on flowers. Texture, foliage color, shape, and movement matter just as much. A silver trailing plant can make purple blooms look richer, white flowers look cleaner, and bold tropical leaves look more intentional. Licorice plant does not shout. It improves the whole conversation.

Conclusion

Licorice plant is a low-maintenance, high-impact ornamental that belongs in more containers, hanging baskets, sunny borders, and water-wise gardens. Give it bright light, sharp drainage, moderate water, and occasional trimming, and it will reward you with soft silver foliage that looks good from spring through fall. It is forgiving, stylish, drought tolerant once established, and versatile enough to blend with cottage gardens, modern patios, Mediterranean-style plantings, and bold summer containers.

The professional secret is simple: do not overcomplicate it. Plant it where drainage is excellent, avoid soggy soil, prune lightly, and let the foliage do what it does best. With the right setup, licorice plant can make even a beginner’s container look like it was assembled by someone wearing linen, holding pruning shears, and saying things like “texture is everything.” And in this case, texture really is everything.