Lycium barbarum aka Goji Berry

Lycium barbarum is a deciduous shrub in the nightshade family. People know it as goji berry or wolfberry. Kew places its native range in northern and central China. RHS gives a broader range from Europe to China. It grows in temperate regions, in hedges and on waste ground. Gardeners grow it for fruit, hedges, and wall cover.

Sources place its garden height around 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres]. RHS gives the same range for its spread. Its branches arch and sprawl, and suckers form dense growth. The stems bear scattered thorns. Young twigs start light brown and turn grey with age. The bark has a grey-brown tone. Its simple leaves grow in an alternate pattern along stems. They have smooth edges and green to grey-green tones. Leaf shapes range from narrow to spoon-shaped. They can reach 0.25 feet [0.08 metres] long.

Small purple flowers appear from late spring through summer. Missouri Botanical Garden lists June to August as the bloom season. Each tubular flower has five lobes. Orange-red berries follow, hanging down from the branches. Virginia Tech reports that they ripen in late autumn. Ripe fruit tastes sweet, with a mild liquorice note. Some fruit develops a bitter aftertaste. People eat the berries fresh, cooked, or dried. Birds and squirrels also feed on ripe fruit.

Full sun gives the best fruit crop, though light shade works. The plant needs soil that drains well. RHS lists clay, loam, and sand as suitable soils. It also accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Compost or well-rotted manure can enrich the planting site. Moist soil suits it, but the shrub tolerates drought. Sources list USDA zones 4–9 and UK hardiness H5. A wall or fence can support stems grown for fruit. Light spring pruning removes old wood and shortens long shoots. Dense roots can help hold sandy banks in place.

Powdery mildew, root rot, and blossom end rot can cause problems. Aphids, Japanese beetles, and goji berry gall mites may attack. Netting can protect fruit from birds. PFAF flags weed potential, and the shrub spreads through suckers. Eat only fully ripe berries. People cook young shoots and use leaves to make tea. PFAF urges caution with leaves and unripe fruit. It reports no recorded toxicity, rather than proof of safety. The berries have a long history of traditional medicinal use. That history does not establish their value as medical treatment.