Lycium afrum aka Kaffir Boxthorn

Lycium afrum is a thorny shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It comes from South Africa’s southwestern Cape Province. Its native climate is subtropical. It grows in dry scrub and coastal soils. Habitat records extend from Clanwilliam towards Port Elizabeth. The RHS lists its common name as Africa tea tree. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This deciduous shrub reaches about 6.6 feet [2 metres] tall. Its many spines make it useful as a barrier plant. Flowers appear from May to June in the cited account. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. The fruit is a berry about 0.3 inches [8 millimetres] across. The available species evidence gives no leaf or bark details.

Grow it in full sun, with soil that drains well. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also grows in poor ground without rich feeding. Soil of modest fertility supports better flowering and fruiting. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. The soil can be dry or moist. The plant also withstands exposure to sea winds. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–11, but notes limited British hardiness. It reports tolerance of brief frosts near 23°F [−5°C]. A sunny wall offers protection for flowering and fruiting in Britain.

Garden uses include hedges and sunny woodland edges. Dense, thorny growth can form a barrier that blocks access. Cold limits its value as a hedge in Britain. Its wide root system can help hold banks in place. Spring is the suggested time for pruning. Seeds can be sown under glass in early spring. Young plants need greenhouse shelter through their first winter. Pinching shoot tips encourages a bushier shape. Cuttings and division of suckers offer other ways to propagate it. Plant young seedlings out in late spring or early summer.

PFAF lists the fruit as edible, either raw or cooked. Yet its safety notes call for caution before eating it. No species-specific poisoning records are cited in that source. This does not establish that every plant part is safe. Take particular care with leaves and fruit that is not ripe. The warning rests partly on poisonous relatives in the same family. The evidence supplied gives no species-specific pest or disease details.