Family: Asteraceae

Helichrysum petiolare (licorice plant, liquorice plant) is a shrub, native to coastal South Africa. It is cultivated for its foliage and as groundcover. The foliage has a faint licorice aroma, but Helichrysum petiolare is not closely related to the true liquorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra. It is reported to be naturalized in Europe, the Southwestern United States, and Madeira, and it is presumably naturalized or naturalizing on Hawai’i island.

High Risk Traits:

• Can grow and spread in regions with Mediterranean to subtropical climates.
  
• A South African native naturalized in regions of Europe, North America, New Zealand, and established and apparently naturalized on Hawaii Island
  
• A weed of natural areas in California, capable of invading undisturbed scrub and displacing native species
  
• Other Helichrysum species are invasive weeds.
  
• Unpalatable to deer and probably other browsing animals
  
• Tolerates many soil types.
  
• Reported to form dense stands.
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting stems.
  
• Hybridizes with other Helichrysum species.
  
• Reported to reach reproductive maturity in 2 years.
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind, and through intentional cultivation.
  
• Vegetative fragments spread in dumped garden waste.
  
• Reported to produce large numbers of seeds.
  
• May be able to establish after fire (from seed)

Low Risk Traits:

• Although invading natural areas in California, reported to spread slowly, and impacts on native ecosystems have not been quantified.
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• No confirmed reports of toxicity (although a few websites claim it is poisonous)
  
• Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)