Lycium pallidum aka Pale Wolfberry

Lycium pallidum is an easy, low-maintenance plant well-suited to arid and semi-arid gardens. It thrives in poor soils, tolerates drought, and adapts to sandy, loamy, or clay substrates without special amendment. As long as it receives full sun and has reasonably well-drained soil, it requires minimal attention once established.

Pale wolfberry is a deciduous shrub that typically reaches 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall, though specimens can grow up to 3 meters in ideal conditions. It grows at a moderate rate and tends to spread laterally through suckering, forming dense, thorny thickets of spiny, zigzagging branches. The plant has a somewhat lopsided, rangy growth habit with multiple main stems.

Lycium pallidum is cold-hardy to approximately -17°C (1°F), making it suitable for USDA zones 5 through 9. It naturally grows in desert environments with extreme temperature swings, tolerating both intense summer heat and freezing winter nights. Being deciduous, it drops its leaves in cold weather and enters dormancy.

Pale wolfberry requires little to no fertilizer. It naturally grows in nutritionally poor, arid soils and excessive fertilization can actually promote weak, leggy growth. If desired, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient, but most established plants perform well without any supplemental feeding.

Lycium pallidum produces pendulous, broadly tubular flowers from May through August. The blooms are up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) long with five partly overlapping, flared lobes and prominently exserted stamens. They range in color from creamy-yellow to greenish-cream, sometimes tinged with purple. The flowers are fragrant and hang singly or in pairs from the branches, attracting native bees and other insect pollinators.

Pale wolfberry can be propagated by seed, cuttings, suckers, or layering. Seeds should be sown in early spring in a greenhouse where germination is usually quick and reliable. Half-ripe cuttings (5–10 cm with a heel) taken in July–August root well in a frame. Mature wood cuttings from current season's growth can be taken from autumn through late winter. Suckers can also be divided in late winter and planted directly into permanent positions.

Lycium pallidum is exclusively an outdoor plant, hardy in USDA zones 5–9. It thrives in the arid and semi-arid climates of the southwestern United States but adapts well to other regions with full sun and well-drained soil. It tolerates maritime exposure and poor soils. In cooler climates like Britain, it may underperform in fruit production, especially after cool summers. Pinch shoot tips of young plants to encourage bushy growth.

As a deciduous shrub, Lycium pallidum drops its leaves in autumn and enters winter dormancy, requiring no watering or attention during this period. In spring, new growth emerges and flowering begins in May. Summer is the active growth and fruiting season, when occasional deep watering during extended drought can support fruit production. Pruning, if needed, is best done in late winter before new growth starts.

Lycium pallidum is hermaphrodite, with each flower containing both male and female organs. It is primarily pollinated by native bees attracted to its fragrant, tubular flowers. The plant is also visited by various moth species. Successful pollination produces oval, juicy red berries containing up to 50 seeds each, which are dispersed by birds and mammals.

Pruning is optional but helpful for managing Lycium pallidum's natural tendency to form dense, tangled thickets. Prune in late winter while the plant is dormant to control size, shape, and spread. Remove dead or crossing branches to maintain airflow. For young plants, pinch shoot tips to encourage bushier, more compact growth rather than a leggy, lopsided habit.

The ripe red berries of Lycium pallidum are edible raw, cooked, or dried for later use. The fruit should be perfectly ripe before eating raw. Dried berries keep well and can be ground into a meal. The Hopi traditionally boiled and drained the fruit, then ground it into a mush. Like other wolfberries, the fruit is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids. Leaves and unripe fruit should be avoided.

Lycium pallidum has a history of traditional medicinal use among indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. The ground root was placed in tooth cavities to relieve toothache. The bark and dried berries were used as a traditional "life medicine." The fruit is rich in vitamins and bioactive compounds and is being investigated for potential cancer-preventive properties, though these uses remain under research.

Beyond food and medicine, Lycium pallidum is valued for erosion control due to its extensive root system, which stabilizes banks and slopes. Its dense, thorny thickets provide excellent wildlife habitat, offering cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. The Ancestral Puebloans encouraged these shrubs to grow near their villages, and the plant has also been used to rehabilitate disturbed desert lands and abandoned farmland.

Lycium pallidum is generally resistant to pests and diseases, which is typical of tough desert-adapted shrubs. It serves as a larval host for several moth species including the Mexican agapema silkmoth and various sphinx moths, but these rarely cause significant damage. No major disease problems are documented. Its spiny structure also provides natural protection against browsing, though deer and cattle may graze on the foliage.

The flowers of Lycium pallidum are fragrant, producing a pleasant scent that attracts native bees and other insect pollinators. The fragrance is most noticeable during the May–August bloom period when the pendulous, tubular flowers are open. The foliage and berries do not have a notable scent.

Two botanical varieties of Lycium pallidum are recognized: var. pallidum (pale wolfberry), the typical form found from southern Utah to Oklahoma and northern Mexico, and var. oligospermum (rabbit thorn), described by C.L. Hitchcock. The varieties differ primarily in seed count per berry. No horticultural cultivars have been developed, as the species is primarily grown from wild-collected material.

Pale Wolfberry’s native range is Central and Southern N. America.

Pale Wolfberry does best in dry soil and should only be watered sparingly.

Pale Wolfberry loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Pale Wolfberry requires abundant, bright and direct light. Placing it less than one foot from a window is the best way to make sure the plant receives enough light to survive and thrive. Depending on your region, however, the current weather can affect the placement of the plant in your home. For example, in some areas the sun may be too direct and intense, so it's best to place it farther away from the window. You may also need to adjust your placement according to the season as the sunlight can change intensity over the course of the year. If you live in a region with significant temperature fluctuations, such as a desert, you may need to place the plant a bit farther away from the window to avoid extreme heat or cold. With some care and attention, your Desert Thorn will be sure to bring you many years of beauty and enjoyment.

Ploi's records do not contain confirmed information on the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event of accidental ingestion of plant material with questionable toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional.