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Native Plant Database

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Lycium berlandieri (Berlandier's wolfberry)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Lycium berlandieri Dunal

Berlandier's wolfberry, Wolfberry

Solanaceae (Potato Family)

USDA Symbol: LYBE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Perennial shrub to 7 feet tall. The small, tubular flowers have 4 or 5 lobes, protruding stamens, and are followed by round, red berries. The 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) long leaves are spatulate and mostly glabrous. This native, rangy, sprawling shrub blooms anytime from spring to fall.

Berlandier wolfberry is found on flats, along washes or arroyos, on dry, gravelly to sandy hills and bajadas, and on rocky slopes. The blue, lavender, or white flowers bloom from February to October. The fruit is a small red berry and is eaten by small birds and mammals, such as chachalacas and racoons. Wolfberry is browsed by white-tailed deer and occasionally by livestock.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: 5-7
Flower:
Fruit: Red
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , OK , TX
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Gravelly, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Blooms ornamental, Fruits ornamental
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Browse, Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals
Use Medicinal: Historically, Native Americans have eaten Berlandier wolfberry berries and have used the plant for a wide variety of medicinal purposes
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings , Softwood Cuttings

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Lycium berlandieri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lycium berlandieri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lycium berlandieri

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-08
Research By: TWC Staff

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