Overview

Lycium barbarum is a plant with a bushy habit in the genus Lycium, part of the Solanaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Lycium barbarum grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, coastal, hedging and screens, banks and slopes, edible fruit, climber and wall shrubs and wall side borders.

About

Lycium barbarum is a shrub native to China, with present-day range across Asia and southeast Europe. It is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium chinense. In the United Kingdom it is also known as Duke of Argyll's tea tree after Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll who introduced it in the country in the 1730s. The shrub is an important commercial crop in northern China, especially in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Grow it in full sun and most soil types. In UK gardens it is hardy in most of the UK (RHS H5). It works well for cottage and informal garden, coastal, hedging and screens, banks and slopes, edible fruit, climber and wall shrubs and wall side borders. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained, well-drained conditions and south-facing and west-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Lycium barbarum

About the genus

Lycium is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The genus has a disjunct distribution around the globe, with species occurring on most continents in temperate and subtropical regions. South America has the most species, followed by North America and southern Africa.

Wikipedia contributors, "Lycium", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Lycium

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Lycium

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral, Alkaline

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Lycium barbarum size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Hedging and screens, Banks and slopes, Edible fruit, Climber and wall shrubs, Wall side borders

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Lycium barbarum

Propagation

Seed indoors in spring, Hardwood cuttings in winter, Softwood cuttings in early summer, Layering in autumn, Replanting suckers in late winter

Pest resistance

Aphids

Disease resistance

Powdery mildews

Frequently asked questions