Astragalus glycyphyllos aka Liquorice Milk Vetch

Astragalus glycyphyllos is a perennial in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include wild liquorice, fitsroot, and liquorice vetch. Its native range spans Europe, western Siberia, and Iran. It is native to Britain and Ireland. This temperate plant grows in rough grass and bushy places. Its leaves fall away at the end of the season.

The plant makes a low, sprawling mass of stems. These trail across soil or climb through nearby plants. Heights range from about 1–3 feet (0.3–0.9 metres). RHS also gives an upper garden height of 3.3 feet (1 metre). The spread can reach 4.9 feet (1.5 metres). Pale green, pinnate leaves bear paired, oval to oblong leaflets. Fine hairs give the leaves a soft feel. Each leaflet measures about 0.1–0.2 feet (0.03–0.06 metres) long.

Flowers appear from June to August in close-packed clusters. Each tubular flower has five petals, cream with a green tint. Long, swollen pea pods follow the blooms. The plant has little scent above ground. Its roots have a faint scent like liquorice. They are not the source of liquorice sweets. Those come from a different plant.

Grow it in sun or partial shade with moderate soil fertility. It needs moist soil that lets excess water drain away. RHS lists chalk, clay, loam, and sand as suitable soils. It prefers neutral to alkaline conditions. RHS rates its UK hardiness as H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 3–7. Plants reach their full size in one to two years. Sow seed in autumn, or in spring after cold treatment. Move seedlings into separate pots when their first true leaf appears. Later root disturbance can kill them.

This species suits wildflower meadows, wildlife gardens, and informal beds. Its spreading growth can serve as ground cover. Plants For A Future lists nitrogen fixation and pasture use. It also provides nectar and shelter for helpful insects and other arthropods. RHS reports few disease problems, though pea and bean weevils may attack it. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Plants For A Future gives it a low food-use rating. It records occasional tea made from the herb. It also lists the root as a liquorice substitute. That source questions how well the root matches liquorice in taste. It lists no known medicinal uses. The supplied evidence does not establish this species' toxicity. Broad warnings about other members of the genus do not settle its safety.