Helichrysum Licorice Splash

Description

• The variegated licorice plant produces a soft-textured look in a garden. Its green and white marbled leaves are covered with silver, wooly hairs. The coloration makes the leaves seem to glow in moonlight. Because the plant is grown for its foliage, it is not necessary to remove its tiny, white blossoms after they fade. When the plant's stems reach 1 to 2 feet tall, they tend to sprawl across the ground, forming a 3-foot wide mound. The cascading stems work well trailing from a hanging basket or draping over a retaining wall.

Growing Conditions

• Native to southern Africa, variegated licorice plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. In colder zones, it grows as an annual, having to be replanted each spring. The plant tolerates weather down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. A good planting location for it is exposed to at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. The key to growing this plant is excellent drainage, such as the drainage found in a rock garden. When planted in wet soil, the variegated licorice plant develops root rot.

Care

• The variegated licorice plant is considered an easy-care plant. It requires only 1 inch of water each week the first summer after it is planted. That watering encourages root growth and improves the plant’s drought resistance. Once the plant is growing well the following spring, it needs water only when the weather turns hot and dry. The plant benefits from a spring feeding of 12-12-12 granulated fertilizer. Scratch only 1 1/2 tablespoons of fertilizer per plant into the top 1 inch of soil in spring before new growth begins.

Pests

• The plant suffers from white flies, leaf miners and aphids. Those pests tend to hide underneath leaves. So turn the leaves over when examining the plant for problems. Spraying the leaves in morning with a strong stream of water knocks the pests off the plant. Do not get the leaves wet on cloudy days or in the evening, however; leaves that don't dry are prone to disease. Releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs near the plant and control large infestations of pests.