Astragalus glycyphyllos

wild liquorice

An herbaceous perennial with a sprawling, low-growing habit that grows to 30cm-90cm in height with a spread to 1.5m with stems that creep along the ground or climb over other vegetation. It has pale green pinnate leaves, pairs of oval to oblong leaflets that are around 3-6cm long. The leaves are slightly hairy with a soft texture. From June to August, it displays dense clusters of five-petalled, tubular, creamy-white, slightly green flowers that are followed by long, inflated peapods. The plant is not strongly scented, but the roots contain compounds that give them a faint liquorice-like aroma, hence the common name. However, the liquorice that we eat as a sweet comes from the root of a different plant