Wild licorice

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host
Silver-spotted Skipper, Gray Hairstreak
❄️ Winter Food Source
Yes — Prickly pods contain seeds accessible above snow.

Growing Conditions

Sun
Full Sun ☀️
Moisture
Dry 💧, Regular 💧💧
Bloom
June
Sociability
S3 — Patches / Loose groups

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity

Proximity Score

Our internally developed scale tracking proximity of historical species occurrence to our Eco-Region (8.1.8). 0 = hyper-local, 5 = off-continent.

3
Native Status
Outaouais: — · QC: — · ON: ✅

Native Occurrence

Closest Native Direction
West
Eco-zone

The closest historically occurring Eco-zone, mapped to the CEC values.

9 Great Plains
Eco-province
8.2 Central USA Plains
Eco-region
Northern Glaciated Plains

Rarity & Status

Rarity Notes
Vulnerable (ON): Limited prairie habitat.
Rank QC

In Quebec, the CDPNQ (Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec) is the body that assigns these ranks using the NatureServe methodology.

Click here for more info →
SNA — Not Applicable
Rank ON

The S-rank (Subnational Rank) is a standardized tool used across Canada to measure the extinction risk of a species within a specific province or territory.

Click here for more info →
S3 — Vulnerable
Ecological Context
Native to Ontario but further west/south.

Edibility & Foraging

Edible
✅ Edible
Commonly Eaten
✅ Yes
Notes
Root (raw, cooked, or chewed). Native licorice.

Permaculture and Companion Planting Properties

Role(s)
Nitrogen Fixer
Notes
Wild Licorice fixes soil nitrogen.

Medicinal Properties

Category
Respiratory
Notes
Native licorice used for sore throats/coughs.
△ Low Toxicity

Excessive use leads to high blood pressure.

Provenance

Seed Provenance
Embrun, ON; Nova Scotia
Seed Source
Multiple seed sources:
  • Trinkets and Thyme
  • Incredible Seed Co.
Wild licorice