Common Name:

General Information

Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora is a herbaceous perennial plant with usually branching stems growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It usually grows around 100 - 150cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as an ingredient in cosmetic preparations. It is sometimes grown as a soil binder and winbreak.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Mongolia, Russian Far East, China (Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Nei Monggol, Shaanxi, Shandong, Yunnan)

Habitat

Pebbles and slopes in river valleys.[]. Riverbanks, open valleys by streams, open slopes, margins of
farms, roadsides; at elevations from 2,600 - 3,100 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position. Requires a deep well cultivated fertile moisture-retentive soil for good root production[]. Prefers a sandy soil with abundant moisture[]. A slightly alkaline soil produces the best plants[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Unless seed is required, the plant is usually prevented from flowering so that it puts more energy into producing good quality roots[].
A very deep-rooted plant, it can be difficult to eradicate once it is established[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as a windbreak and for stabilizing sandy soils[].

Other Uses

An extract of the roots is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow spring or autumn in a greenhouse[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer when in active growth. Plants are rather slow to grow from seed[].
Division of the root in spring or autumn. Each division must have at least one growth bud. Autumn divisions can either be replanted immediately or stored in clamps until the spring and then be planted out[]. It is best to pt up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established before planting them out in the spring or summer.