Helichrysum petiolare
Licorice plant
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Helichrysum petiolare (Licorice plant) is a non-native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only Helichrysum species naturalized in California, South African garden escape.
Licorice plant is a naturalized perennial found in coastal California regions including the central and southern coastal areas in cultivated and disturbed landscapes at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces heads of small flowers in rounded or flat-topped clusters with creamy white phyllary tips. Growing with straggling or trailing stems up to 100 centimeters long that sometimes root where they touch the ground, it has a loosely branched structure covered in soft gray tomentose hair. Its leaves are silvery green, ovate to nearly round, measuring 1 to 3.5 centimeters long with widely tapered bases and obtuse tips. The fruit is approximately 1 millimeter long with 5 distinct ribs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Helichrysum species naturalized in California, South African garden escape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cultivated for ornament, escaped into coastal scrub, forest
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: Europe, native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Helichrysum petiolare blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudognaphalium: Helichrysum has rounded woolly leaves; Pseudognaphalium has narrow linear leaves.; vs Eriophyllum: Helichrysum has papery white bract tips; Eriophyllum has narrow green bracts and actual yellow ray flowers.; vs Eriogonum: Helichrysum has opposite/whorled felted leaves; Eriogonum has basal leaf rosettes and naked flowering stems.; vs Achillea: Helichrysum has round woolly leaves; Achillea has finely divided fern-like leaves.; vs Ericameria: Helichrysum has soft woolly oval leaves; Ericameria has narrow sticky resinous leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Helichrysum petiolare native to California?
No. Helichrysum petiolare is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Helichrysum petiolare bloom?
Helichrysum petiolare blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Helichrysum petiolare belong to?
Helichrysum petiolare is in the Asteraceae family, genus Helichrysum.
Is Helichrysum petiolare invasive in California?
Helichrysum petiolare is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Helichrysum petiolare grow in?
Helichrysum petiolare grows in Cultivated for ornament, escaped into coastal scrub, forest.
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.