Licorice plant is a tender perennial shrub prized for its impossibly soft, silvery-gray foliage that feels like felt to the touch. Native to South Africa, this woody-based plant typically grows just 6, 9 inches tall when cultivated as an annual, though it spreads outward dramatically to 3, 4 feet wide on trailing stems lined with oval, gray-green leaves. Hardy in zones 9, 11, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and handles poor, dry soils with ease, making it an exceptionally low-maintenance choice for gardeners seeking soft texture and delicate form without fussy care requirements.
Partial Sun
Moderate
9-11
9in H x 36in W
—
High
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The silvery, densely felted foliage is the star here, soft enough to run your fingers across like suede, with a subtle gray-green cast that catches light beautifully. Licorice plant trails and spreads generously, filling spaces horizontally rather than reaching upward, so it becomes a textural anchor in containers, baskets, or garden beds. It tolerates poor, dry soils that would kill other plants, and once established, it asks for very little water or attention. The plant rarely flowers when grown as an annual; when it does flower on overwintered plants, the tiny white flowers are so insignificant they barely register, the whole appeal is the foliage.
Licorice plant is grown almost exclusively for its ornamental foliage rather than any culinary purpose. Gardeners use it as a trailing accent in containers, hanging baskets, and mixed plantings where its soft, silvery texture contrasts beautifully with darker or more boldly colored plants. The spreading, mounding habit also makes it useful as a ground-level filler or edging plant in annual beds.
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Start seed indoors 6, 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-starting mix and keep them in bright light (they need light to germinate). Maintain soil temperature around 70°F. Seedlings will emerge in 10, 14 days.
Set seedlings or purchased plants outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Harden off young plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7, 10 days before planting in the garden. Space plants 12, 18 inches apart, allowing room for their spreading habit.
Pinch back stem tips early in the growing season to encourage bushier, more compact growth. If you prefer the trailing habit, allow the plant to spread naturally without pruning. Cut back any leggy stems to maintain a neater appearance, or simply let it cascade over container edges.
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