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Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns (Lycium)
Also known as : Desert-Thorn, Desert-thorns, Wolfthorns
The box-thorns is a genus of flowering shrubs that can be found in flats, arroyos, and washes. Cattle, deer, and birds all graze on this plant. Its fruits, goji berries, are an important food crop in Asia. Goji berries can be consumed in tea, juice, wine, and even soups. The box-thorns was also used by Ancient Roman herbalists.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
info

Key Facts About Box-thorns

Attributes of Box-thorns

Leaf type
Deciduous
distribution

Distribution of Box-thorns

Distribution Map of Box-thorns

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
species

Exploring the Box-thorns Plants

8 most common species:
Lycium barbarum
Chinese wolfberry
Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is one of two plants from which goji berries are harvested. While the tart berries are edible, the leaves can be toxic in large quantities. It grows as a weedy, sprawling vine with lavender flowers.
Lycium chinense
Chinese Boxthorn
Chinese Boxthorn is a perennial East Asian herb and is well-known in traditional Chinese medicine. The oblong-shaped red-orange fruit has a sweet and anise-like flavor and is used as an ingredient in soup. The dried leaves can also be used to make tea. Bees pollinate this tonic herb, which thrives in well-drained moist soils.
Lycium ferocissimum
African boxthorn
The "ferocissimum" in the name of the african boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a tribute to its ferocious thorns, which help the plant ward off grazing herbivores. However, its bright red berries, which bloom sporadically throughout the year, are a bird attractant. African boxthorn also produces small white flowers with purple markings in the spring and winter.
Lycium andersonii
Water jacket
Water jacket (Lycium andersonii) is a flowering plant species with a large fibrous root system. Water jacket is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is able to grow in high saline soils and alkaline soils.
Lycium carolinianum
Carolina desert-thorn
Carolina desert-thorn is a tiny spreading shrub with thorny, upright stems and succulent foliage grouped along the branches. Hummingbirds and other pollinating insects are captivated by the four-petaled, nectar-rich lavender to blue flowers. Additionally, it also produces vibrant crimson berries, which are edible when ripe and have a sweet tomato taste.
Lycium europaeum
Bastard jasmine
Bastard jasmine is a resilient shrub native to Europe with silver-green, lance-shaped leaves. Its distinctive purple flowers bloom in summer, leading to bright red berry-like fruits savored by wildlife. Flourishing in coastal areas, bastard jasmine's tough nature allows it to thrive in poor soils and resist drought, making it a landscape stabilizer and a haven for pollinators.
Lycium brevipes
Baja desert-thorn
Baja desert-thorn is a shrubby, spiny desert perennial, flourishing in arid conditions. It sports small, narrow leaves which help reduce water loss. Vibrant, tubular flowers and red-orange berries stand out against its thorny silhouette. Though tolerant of poor soils, it thrives in well-drained sandy substrates, adapting to thrive with minimal moisture.
Lycium berlandieri
Berlandier's wolfberry
This shrub reaches up to 2 metres tall. The roots may extend 9 metres from the plant. It has spiny branches. It loses its leaves and becomes dormant during dry times. The bell-shaped flowers are solitary or borne in pairs. The fruit is a juicy red berry.

All Species of Box-thorns

Chinese wolfberry
Lycium barbarum
Chinese wolfberry
Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is one of two plants from which goji berries are harvested. While the tart berries are edible, the leaves can be toxic in large quantities. It grows as a weedy, sprawling vine with lavender flowers.
Chinese Boxthorn
Lycium chinense
Chinese Boxthorn
Chinese Boxthorn is a perennial East Asian herb and is well-known in traditional Chinese medicine. The oblong-shaped red-orange fruit has a sweet and anise-like flavor and is used as an ingredient in soup. The dried leaves can also be used to make tea. Bees pollinate this tonic herb, which thrives in well-drained moist soils.
African boxthorn
Lycium ferocissimum
African boxthorn
The "ferocissimum" in the name of the african boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a tribute to its ferocious thorns, which help the plant ward off grazing herbivores. However, its bright red berries, which bloom sporadically throughout the year, are a bird attractant. African boxthorn also produces small white flowers with purple markings in the spring and winter.
Water jacket
Lycium andersonii
Water jacket
Water jacket (Lycium andersonii) is a flowering plant species with a large fibrous root system. Water jacket is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is able to grow in high saline soils and alkaline soils.
Carolina desert-thorn
Lycium carolinianum
Carolina desert-thorn
Carolina desert-thorn is a tiny spreading shrub with thorny, upright stems and succulent foliage grouped along the branches. Hummingbirds and other pollinating insects are captivated by the four-petaled, nectar-rich lavender to blue flowers. Additionally, it also produces vibrant crimson berries, which are edible when ripe and have a sweet tomato taste.
Bastard jasmine
Lycium europaeum
Bastard jasmine
Bastard jasmine is a resilient shrub native to Europe with silver-green, lance-shaped leaves. Its distinctive purple flowers bloom in summer, leading to bright red berry-like fruits savored by wildlife. Flourishing in coastal areas, bastard jasmine's tough nature allows it to thrive in poor soils and resist drought, making it a landscape stabilizer and a haven for pollinators.
Baja desert-thorn
Lycium brevipes
Baja desert-thorn
Baja desert-thorn is a shrubby, spiny desert perennial, flourishing in arid conditions. It sports small, narrow leaves which help reduce water loss. Vibrant, tubular flowers and red-orange berries stand out against its thorny silhouette. Though tolerant of poor soils, it thrives in well-drained sandy substrates, adapting to thrive with minimal moisture.
Berlandier's wolfberry
Lycium berlandieri
Berlandier's wolfberry
This shrub reaches up to 2 metres tall. The roots may extend 9 metres from the plant. It has spiny branches. It loses its leaves and becomes dormant during dry times. The bell-shaped flowers are solitary or borne in pairs. The fruit is a juicy red berry.
Fremont's desert-thorn
Lycium fremontii
Fremont's desert-thorn
Fremont's desert-thorn is a deciduous shrub found in desert regions, flaunting silver-green foliage that conserves water in its arid habitat. Its delicate purple flowers bloom in spring, giving way to red-orange berries that sustain local wildlife. Characterized by thorny branches, fremont's desert-thorn thrives in the harsh conditions, mastering the balance between beauty and resilience.
Carolina desert-thorn
Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum
Carolina desert-thorn
Carolina desert-thorn is a resilient, salt-tolerant shrub thriving in coastal marshes and saline environments. Its striking purple flowers attract pollinators, while the fleshy leaves conserve water, reflecting its adaptation to arid habitats. The four-angled stems, from which 'quadrifidum' derives, contribute to its distinctive structure, aiding in its identification among coastal flora.
Lycium chilense
Lycium chilense
Lycium chilense
Lycium chilense is a resilient shrub found in arid regions, boasting small, green leaves adapted to conserve water. Its spider-like, pale purple flowers emerge in clusters, uniquely identified by a vibrant yellow center. The plant thrives under full sunlight, its deep roots anchoring it in sandy, well-drained soils and enabling it to withstand harsh conditions.
Wolf honeythorn
Lycium oxycarpum
Wolf honeythorn
Wolf honeythorn is a resilient shrub known for its adaptability in arid environments. It displays a dense foliage of small, lanceolate leaves, often with a grayish-green hue that reflects sun exposure. The plant's distinctive sharp, curved fruits emerge after modest purplish flowers, suggesting its readiness to thrive in sparse, challenging conditions. Wolf honeythorn's robust nature is underlined by its tough root system, optimizing water retention.
Parish's desert-thorn
Lycium parishii
Parish's desert-thorn
Parish's desert-thorn is a resilient shrub that typically thrives in the harsh conditions of southwestern American deserts, showcasing small, vibrant purple flowers that serve as a stark contrast to its silver-green foliage. Its spiny branches provide defense against herbivores, while deep roots anchor it in sandy soils, optimizing water uptake in arid environments. The plant's adaptive features make it a symbol of desert survival.
Pale desert-thorn
Lycium pallidum
Pale desert-thorn
Pale desert-thorn, or pale wolfberry, is a hardy shrub with slender, arching branches. It flourishes in arid habitats, displaying small, pale lavender to white flowers that yield small, red-orange berries. The plant's narrow, silvery-gray leaves and thorny stems are adaptations to its dry environment, reflecting sunlight and deterring herbivores. Pale desert-thorn's modest water needs allow it to thrive in various soils, making it a resilient desert dweller.
Mouse honeythorn
Lycium tetrandrum
Mouse honeythorn
Mouse honeythorn is a resilient shrub with slender, thorned branches that flourish in arid environments. Its small, grey-green foliage adapts to conserve water, while its bright purple flowers attract pollinators. Berries, when present, offer sustenance to local wildlife, showcasing mouse honeythorn's integral role in its native ecosystem.
Buck honeythorn
Lycium horridum
Buck honeythorn
Buck honeythorn is a hardy shrub known for its ability to thrive in arid conditions with poor soil quality. Its dense, spiny branches deter herbivores while the small, drought-resistant leaves conserve water. Vibrant, tubular flowers attract pollinators, vital for survival in its sparse habitat.
popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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Key Facts
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More Genus
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Box-thorns
Lycium
Also known as: Desert-Thorn, Desert-thorns, Wolfthorns
The box-thorns is a genus of flowering shrubs that can be found in flats, arroyos, and washes. Cattle, deer, and birds all graze on this plant. Its fruits, goji berries, are an important food crop in Asia. Goji berries can be consumed in tea, juice, wine, and even soups. The box-thorns was also used by Ancient Roman herbalists.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
info

Key Facts About Box-thorns

Attributes of Box-thorns

Leaf type
Deciduous
distribution

Distribution of Box-thorns

Distribution Map of Box-thorns

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
species

Exploring the Box-thorns Plants

8 most common species:
Lycium barbarum
Chinese wolfberry
Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is one of two plants from which goji berries are harvested. While the tart berries are edible, the leaves can be toxic in large quantities. It grows as a weedy, sprawling vine with lavender flowers.
Lycium chinense
Chinese Boxthorn
Chinese Boxthorn is a perennial East Asian herb and is well-known in traditional Chinese medicine. The oblong-shaped red-orange fruit has a sweet and anise-like flavor and is used as an ingredient in soup. The dried leaves can also be used to make tea. Bees pollinate this tonic herb, which thrives in well-drained moist soils.
Lycium ferocissimum
African boxthorn
The "ferocissimum" in the name of the african boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a tribute to its ferocious thorns, which help the plant ward off grazing herbivores. However, its bright red berries, which bloom sporadically throughout the year, are a bird attractant. African boxthorn also produces small white flowers with purple markings in the spring and winter.
Lycium andersonii
Water jacket
Water jacket (Lycium andersonii) is a flowering plant species with a large fibrous root system. Water jacket is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is able to grow in high saline soils and alkaline soils.
Show More Species

All Species of Box-thorns

popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
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Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
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