A nature-lover’s dream, Licorice (Glycorrhiza glabra) is a true delight that will add colour and delightful aromas to any garden. This herbaceous perennial is native to the Mediterranean and Russia - a sweet variety's speciality! Plant given plenty of space and full sun, and be sure your soil has an alkaline balance in order for maximum results - you may even want to inoculate the soil with rhizobium inoculant for an extra boost. Once established in its surroundings, this wonderful plant will shoot up like young willow trees, with elegant lilac flowers that bear the smooth pods used for cooking or medicine. The stoloniferous root can be harvested after 2 or 3 years of diligent growth - a great crop to have for those living in Arizona or California, particularly those at high elevation! Scarify the seed before sowing into warm, fast-draining soil; thin and transplant seedlings after 2 to 3 feet apart. It may take some years to establish a good plot of Licorice, but it's absolutely worth it for all Gardeners who appreciate this nature-lovers' special - a gem of taste and beauty!