Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)

Goji Berry, Chinese Wolfberry

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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.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Lycium barbarum is a shrub native to China, with present-day range across Asia and southeast Europe. It is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium chinense.

Common names of the plant in English include Chinese wolfberry, barbary matrimony vine, red medlar or matrimony vine. In the United Kingdom it is also known as Duke of Argyll’s tea tree after Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll who introduced it in the country in the 1730s.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
Lycium barbarum (7184617668)
Radio Tonreg from Vienna, Austria
CC BY 2.0

The shrub is an important commercial crop in northern China, especially in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Its Chinese name is Ningxia gǒuqǐ.

Lycium barbarum is a deciduous woody shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3 metres (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in). It is characterised by its weak arching branches, and the side branches are often reduced to short leafless spines.

  • Leaves and flowers

L. barbarum leaves form on the shoot either in an alternating arrangement, or in bundles of up to three. Each leaf is green, scarcely fleshy when fresh, usually lanceolate (spearhead-shaped), sometimes with rounded tips. Clustered leaves are up to 25 mm long; the single alternate leaves are up to 55 mm long.

The flowers grow in groups of one to three in the leaf axils, with pedicels 6–15 mm long. The calyx, eventually ruptured by the growing berry, is a whitish tube crowned by five or six radial triangular sepals, shorter than the tube, 10–12 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, sometimes 2–lipped, strongly curved. The sepals are whitish on the lower side (facing towards the branch) and deep mauve on the top side. Each flower has five stamens, exserted for 3–8 mm, with stalks longer than the anthers. The pistil is 8–11.5 mm long. The anthers are longitudinally dehiscent.

  • Fruit

The fruit of L. barbarum, the main variety of goji berry, is a bright orange-red, ellipsoid berry 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter. The fruiting calyx is split deeply once or twice. The number of seeds in each berry varies widely based on cultivar and fruit size, ranging from 10 to 60. The seeds are about 2 mm long, 1 mm wide, yellowish, compressed with a curved embryo.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
Lycium barbarum T17
Pancrat
CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Reproduction

The plants are self-pollinating, but may be cross pollinated by insects. The species is dispersed into natural areas by birds and other animals that eat its fruit.

In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs from June through September and berry maturation from August to October, depending on the latitude, altitude, and climate. Where frost does not occur fruiting is continuous and plants do not lose their leaves.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Chinese wolfberry thrives in full sun conditions, which entails unfiltered, direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. This optimal light exposure is crucial for vigorous growth and maximal berry production. Although Chinese wolfberry is quite adaptive, capable of tolerating partial sun, such conditions may result in leggier plants and reduced fruit yield. If grown outdoors, Chinese wolfberry prefer locations that are open and exposed, allowing for generous sunlight. In conditions of excessive shade, Chinese wolfberry’s growth will be stunted, with sparser foliage and diminished overall vitality.

Soil

Natively, Chinese wolfberry grow in slightly alkaline soil (pH of 7 to 8) so many Utah soils support plant growth well. They do not grow well in acidic soils. Goji plants tolerate a wide range of soil types but prefer a light loam. Although goji can be grown in clay soil, they do not do well if roots are consistently wet, and care should be taken when irrigating on heavy soils to avoid waterlogging.

Watering

Chinese wolfberry thrives in its native semi-arid regions, where it has adapted to survive with infrequent rainfall. It is a drought-tolerant species that prefers dry conditions over excessive moisture. For optimal growth, Chinese wolfberry requires watering once every two weeks, aligning with its ability to conserve water internally. Typically grown outdoors due to its resilience and size, Chinese wolfberry is an excellent candidate for xeriscaping gardens which capitalize on minimal water use while still providing lush greenery.

Fertilizing

For Chinese wolfberry, a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) is ideal during the growing season to encourage foliage and fruiting. Apply every 4-6 weeks. In early growth, high nitrogen fertilizers boost leaf development; switch to balanced types before flowering. Use recommended amounts on the label to prevent over-fertilization damage. Less is required in dormant winter months. Water soil before and after applying fertilizer to aid absorption and prevent root burn. Caution: Overuse can harm Chinese wolfberry’s health.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
Lycium barbarum
Matt Lavin
CC BY-SA 2.0

Planting Instructions

As Chinese wolfberry plant is hardy, autumn is the ideal season to plant, so the bush becomes established well before the growing season. If planting during the growing season, watering until it’s established is essential. Enrich poor soil with compost or manure in advance of planting.

To grow goji berry plant in a pot, choose a large container with a minimum size of 20 litres, and plant using a soil-based potting compost such as John Innes Number 2, mixed with a quarter by volume of coarse grit or perlite.

Pruning

Fruits form on current year’s wood and pruning encourages new growth, increasing yields. Pruning is also important to keep the plant open to allow for good light penetration and air circulation. Typically, no pruning is required in the first year. However, increased pruning in subsequent years is needed to maintain vigorous new growth.

During the dormant season, begin pruning by removing any weak, damaged or crossing branches. Next, shorten lateral branches by cutting back from the tip by 6 to 18 inches. Limit plant height to keep harvesting manageable. During the early summer, pinch off the top 2 to 3 inches of terminal growth. This practice, commonly referred to as tipping, encourages canes to produce more lateral branches which produce more fruit than branches that grow straight up.

After about 3 years (sometimes less) the plant usually begins to sucker, sending up additional new shoots from the root system. If left unchecked, the plant can become very unmanageable. Dig up the shoots and either discard or transplant them.

Propagation

The easiest and fastest way to propagate goji berries is to look for suckers (rooted shoots) that are often produced by mature plants, appearing near the base of the bush. Simply detach the rooted piece, ideally in late winter or early spring, and replant or pot up into fresh compost.

How to take goji berry cuttings

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
Lycium barbarum
anro0002
CC BY-SA 2.0

Take hardwood cuttings from goji berry bush in late winter.

  • Select healthy younger growth that is around pencil thickness and use sharp secateurs to remove pieces 23-30cm long
  • Make a slanting cut on the upper part to identify the right way round to plant
  • Dip the base of the cutting into hormone rooting powder, then push it into well-prepared ground outside or a deep pot filled with moist, peat-free potting compost, so the bottom third of the stem is below ground
  • Keep the cuttings watered during dry spells. In autumn, transplant to their final growing position or pot up into individual containers, ready to plant out later

Repotting

Chinese wolfberry, a robust shrub, typically demands repotting every 2-3 years due to its vigorous growth. Prime repotting occurs in early spring to accommodate a season of active growth. Select deep containers with ample room for root expansion, ensuring the increased size matches Chinese wolfberry’s rapid development. After repotting, maintain consistent watering and offer partial shade for recovery. This tailored approach is crucial for Chinese wolfberry’s success post-repot.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
matrimony vine (Lycium barbarum)
harum.koh
CC BY-SA 2.0

Weed Control

A heavy mulch around each plant will help reduce weeds. Keeping weeds clear around the plant minimizes competition and improves goji performance. A spring application of pre-emergent herbicide will greatly reduce annual weeds. Using landscape fabric or a heavy plastic can be very effective and will minimize suckering.

Pests and Diseases

Since goji is still a fairly new crop, pest information is limited. The only pest reported on goji in Utah is the goji gall mite (see table below). Potato leafhopper, thrips, aphids and spider mites have been reported as pests of goji in other states and should be watched for during routine scouting.

Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product.

III. How to Harvest and Use

Harvest goji berries when they reach full color (approximately 35 days after full bloom). Unlike some berries that can be shaken or beaten from the plants by mechanical harvesters, goji fruit must be picked by hand as the fruit do not easily separate from the stem, and bruised berries will turn black. Also, the plants continuously produce new blossoms, so that fruit are ripening over a long period of time. They will fruit from mid-summer to late fall. When picking, pull the berries slightly to the side instead of straight up to reduce the amount of stem that comes off with the berry.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum)
Lycium barbarum
anro0002
CC BY-SA 2.0

Goji berries are sought after for their health benefits. They can be dried, juiced, frozen or eaten fresh. Possibly the most common way to consume goji berries is as a dried fruit, similar to a raisin, and they can be eaten alone or used in baking.

They can be dried by laying the fruit out on drying trays in the sun, or in a food dehydrator (set the temperature to 105 °F) for about 3 days. Steam juicing works well, and another option is to soak dried berries in water overnight and then strain out the berries to obtain the nutrient-rich juice. Berries can be frozen and thaw well, maintaining their color and flavor.

Fresh eating is possible, but many people do not like the texture of the berry and prefer to consume the berries once processed. Once harvested, the fruit will store for approximately 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Leaves can also be harvested throughout the year to consume fresh or dried. They can be used to make tea or powdered and used as a nutritional supplement.

Chinese Wolfberry (Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum) Details

Common name

Goji Berry, Chinese Wolfberry

Botanical name

Lycium barbarum

Plant type

,

Hardiness zone

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Growth rate

Harvest time

Height

8-10 ft.

Width

4-6 ft.

Dimensions
Dimensions 63630675053 × 63630675017 cm
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