LEAF Network Linking Edible Arizona Forests

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wolfberry

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IDENTIFICATION

Common Name

wolfberry

Photo #1

Scientific Name

Nine species, including: Lycium pallidum Miers; Lycium andersonii A. Gray; Lycium berlandieri Dunal; Lycium fremontii A.Gray; Lycium brevipes Benth.

Family

Solanaceae

Species Description

Wolfberry species are spiny, densely branched, deciduous, perennial shrubs. Spreading to erect plants may form dense thickets. Leaves are alternate, simple, drought deciduous, broadly obovate to spatulate, entire along the margins, blue to gray-green, somewhat thickened and fleshy. Flowers are monoecious; narrow tubular white to pale lavender, appearing in spring. Fruits are fleshy, orange-red, oval berries, that hang downward and ripen in early summer.

NATURAL / CULTURAL HISTORY

AZ Native or Introduced

Native of Arizona

Natural Range

Lycium pallidum ranges from southern CO, NV, NM, AZ, CA, western TX and northern MX. Lycium andersonnii ranges from CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM. Lycium berlandieri and L. fremontii native to northwestern Mexico, southwestern United States; Lycium brevipes ranges from northwestern Mexico to AZ and CA.

Natural Habitat

Desert, upland, plains, flats, dry rocky slopes, mesas, bajadas, washes, riparian habitats. Wolfberry grows in sunny locations in riparian areas, higher elevation deserts, chaparral, grasslands, and juniper woodlands.

Cultural-Historic Notes

Food source for Southwest Indigenous peoples

GROWTH FORM & RATE

Growth Form

Shrub

Tree or Understory

Understory

Other Growth Characteristics

Thorns / Spines

Growth Rate

Moderate

Canopy Diameter

3-10 feet

Tree Height

3-13 feet

Lifespan

Some species up to 90 years

Chill Hours

Unknown

Freeze Tolerance

Mildly frost tolerant to cold hardy depending on species (L. brevipes less frost tolerant, L. andersonnii mildly frost tolerant, L. pallidum cold hardy).

Site, Micro-Climate, and Growing Considerations

Full sun. Plants are thorny so plant in open areas that do not have heavy foot traffic, can be used as hedgerows and borders.

Elevation Range

L. pallidum grows from 3500-7000 ft. L. andersonnii grows from 1500-6000 ft; L. berlandieri and L. fremontii below 3000 ft; L. brevipes less than 2000 ft.

Appropriate Arizona Elevation Categories

HIGH PLATEAU, MOUNTAIN: Prescott, Tuba City, Winslow, Page - USDA Zones 7a-7b (0ºF-10ºF)
HIGH DESERT: Sierra Vista, Kingman, Globe, Wilcox - USDA Zones 8a-8b (10-20ºF)
MID DESERT: Tucson, Ajo, Safford, Casa Grande - USDA Zones 9a-9b (20-30ºF)
LOW DESERT: Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Yuma - USDA Zones 9b-10a (25-35ºF)

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

WATER

Relative Plant Water Use

Low: 10-20 inches / year

Post-Establishment Irrigation Needs

None

CARE

Pollination

Perfect flowers of L. andersonnii pollinated by birds such as hummingbirds.

Soils

Grows in a range of soil types form sandy, gravelly, loamy to clay. Prefers well drained soils. Tolerant of saline soils.

Propagation

Wolfberry species can be propagated from seed, cuttings, root suckering and layering. Plant seeds in fall as soon as fruits ripen or cold stratify seeds at 40 degrees F (60-120 days for some species) to plant in the spring.

Pruning Notes

Prune to space.

HARVEST & PROCESSING

Edible Parts

The ripe red berries are edible raw, cooked, or dried.

Harvest Months

July
August

Harvest and Processing Guide

Harvest and Processing Guide

LEAF is under the fiduciary stewardship of the Arizona Community Tree Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

PO Box 65122, Phoenix, Arizona 85082-5122

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

This website and other LEAF Network products shown here was prepared under the Diverse Urban Forest grant, WCG 14-501, administered by the Arizona Community Tree Council. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability (Not all prohibited basis applies to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.