Christmasberry (Lycium carolinianum)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Shrub
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 11
Plant Height:	4 to 6 feet
Leaves:	Evergreen
Fruit:	Showy Edible to birds Other: Red berries
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Other: Lavender
Flower Time:	Spring
Uses:	Provides winter interest Erosion control
Edible Parts:	Fruit
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Birds
Toxicity:	Leaves are poisonous Other: The leaves contain damascenone, a terpenoid essential oil.
Propagation: Seeds:	Other info: Ripe berries may be picked from the bushes in the fall and the seeds extracted by maceration. Seed dormancy in this genus is variable. Seeds of some species may require stratification at 41 degrees for 60-120 days.
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Layering Other: Suckers
Pollinators:	Bees
Miscellaneous:	Tolerates poor soil

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Comments:

Posted by valleylynn (Dallas, OR - Zone 8b) on Feb 15, 2012 12:35 PM A member of the solanaceae family. The leaves contain toxins, but the ripe fruit is eatable for humans. Cautions should be used with ingestion of leaves or unripe fruit, though there are not records of toxicity. Ripe fruit are edible and where used by Native Americans. Range: South-eastern North America, South Carolina to Florida and Texas. Rated as a plant that could be grown as a standard crop. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It cannot grow in the shade.It requires moist soil.The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. [ Reply to this comment \| ]

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Help with plant ID please by Bayouranch	Dec 3, 2017 10:41 PM	5
flowers at the beach by piksihk	Aug 21, 2013 9:09 AM	3
Salt tolerant plants by eclayne	Oct 10, 2020 8:42 PM	133
Flowering bush (shrub?) by crittergarden	Nov 24, 2012 1:05 PM	5
Camphor Daisies by Horntoad	Jan 21, 2012 7:52 AM	6

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Plants→Lycium→Christmasberry (Lycium carolinianum)