Licorice Plant
Helichrysum petiolare
A trailing subshrub featuring rounded to heart-shaped, woolly, silver-green or gray leaves and slender, flexible stems.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal leaf coloration.
- Water
- Moderate drought tolerance once established. Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil are dry, and avoid waterlogging.
- Growth
- Trailing or sprawling evergreen perennial subshrub, growing 1 to 2 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet.
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil, and allow the medium to dry out between waterings. Fertilize lightly during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal leaf coloration.
Watering
Moderate drought tolerance once established. Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil are dry, and avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Well-draining, gritty or sandy soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 9 through 11, typically grown as an annual in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Trailing or sprawling evergreen perennial subshrub, growing 1 to 2 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet.
Bloom season
Summer to early autumn, producing small, inconspicuous, creamy-white or yellowish flower clusters.
Propagation
Easily propagated through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, which root readily in well-draining propagation medium.
Common pests & issues
Prusceptible to root rot if overwatered or planted in heavy, poorly draining soil. Pests include aphids and whiteflies.
Similar species
Silver Dichondra (Dichondra argentea), which has a similar trailing silver foliage habit but possesses kidney-shaped, fan-like leaves rather than fuzzy oval-to-heart leaves.