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Matrimony Vine Lycium

Phonetic Spelling
LIH-see-um
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Box Thorns are deciduous or evergreen shrubs in the nightshade family with 70 to 80 species. They mostly occur in arid and semi-arid climates, and a few are known from coastal zones in saline and dune habitats. Most have thorny stems and small flowers with berries that are red to purple or yellow.

Two of the better-known ones are Goji Berries and Wolfberries, which are used as health foods or in medicine. Goji berries like to creep along the ground and are easier to harvest if staked.

A few species have become invasive in Australia and New Zealand forming thorny thickets that harm cattle and crowd out native plants. Lycium ferocissimum is a federally listed noxious weed in the USA.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'barbarum'
    Goji berries
'barbarum'
Tags:
#thorns#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#showy fruits#edible fruits#edible garden#Noxious Weed (Federal list)
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'barbarum'
    Goji berries
'barbarum'
Tags:
#thorns#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#showy fruits#edible fruits#edible garden#Noxious Weed (Federal list)
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lycium
    Family:
    Solanaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Various parts of the plants have been used for various medical problems throughout the world.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Temporate and subtropical regions of the world
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds eat the fruits.
    Edibility:
    EDIBLE PARTS: Berries edible raw, cooked, or dried
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Erect
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    A berry, red to purple or yellow
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Small funnel-shaped or bell-shaped, white, lilac, purple flowers in spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Small narrow fleshy green leaves vary in shape and size
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Spines/Thorns
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Ingestion of the leaves causes headaches, abdominal pain, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory and respiratory depression, and loss of sensation only if eaten in large quantities.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves