Glycyrrhiza glabra
Licorice, Licorice
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) is a non-native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by (G. lepidota). Clear differences in flower color, leaflet shape, and inflorescence density.
Licorice is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal and Sacramento Valley regions in disturbed areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces blue to purple flowers approximately 9 to 11 millimeters long in open inflorescences. Growing with nearly glabrous or finely hairy stems, it reaches moderate heights with a spreading habit. Its compound leaves feature 9 to 13 widely ovate or elliptic leaflets arranged along the stem. The fruit develops as a narrowly oblong pod 12 to 30 millimeters long, characteristic of this introduced species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (G. lepidota). Clear differences in flower color, leaflet shape, and inflorescence density.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sporadic. Disturbed areas
Elevation: especially < 500 m
Outside California: occasionally United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Glycyrrhiza glabra blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Foeniculum: Glycyrrhiza has bristly legume pods; Foeniculum has smooth ridged seeds and anise smell.; vs Astragalus: Glycyrrhiza leaflets 6-10mm wide; Astragalus leaflets narrower, typically under 5mm.; vs Juglans: Glycyrrhiza is herbaceous with bristly pods; Juglans is woody tree with nuts.; vs Psorothamnus: Glycyrrhiza lacks gland-dots and has broad leaflets; Psorothamnus has gland-dotted narrow leaflets.; vs Marina: Glycyrrhiza has broad 6-10mm leaflets; Marina has tiny narrow leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glycyrrhiza glabra native to California?
No. Glycyrrhiza glabra is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Glycyrrhiza glabra bloom?
Glycyrrhiza glabra blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Glycyrrhiza glabra belong to?
Glycyrrhiza glabra is in the Fabaceae family, genus Glycyrrhiza.
What habitat does Glycyrrhiza glabra grow in?
Glycyrrhiza glabra grows in Sporadic. Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.