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Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum (Carolina wolfberry)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum (Dunal) C.L. Hitchc.

Carolina wolfberry, Creeping wolfberry, Carolina desert-thorn

Solanaceae (Potato Family)

USDA Symbol: LYCAQ

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Carolina Wolfberry is a thinly branched, spiny, upright or somewhat spreading shrub. The new branches may have 1-centimeter-long thick spines, or be unarmed; older branches, however, are spiny. Leaves are somewhat succulent, and variety quadrifidum is distinguished as a variety because it has larger leaves and flowers and more spines, as well as by its more western distribution. Its lavender calyx is wheel-shaped to bell-shaped. Carolina wolfberry is distinctive in having a four-lobed corolla, as most of the plants in the Solanaceae family have five lobes.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Flower: Flowers 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch
Fruit: Tomato red 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Size Class: 1-3 ft. , 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: LA , MS , TX
Native Distribution: From Mississippi to southeast Texas to northeastern Mexico
Native Habitat: About ponds, along and in ditches, marshes, on wet clay flats, salt flats, and in sandy/gravelly soil on brush covered hills.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Seasonally inundated sand, loam, clay, or gravel. Salt-tolerant.
Conditions Comments: Will grow in harsh conditions, but is drought-deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves during summer droughts.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Fruits ornamental. Ground cover. Good for wetland gardens and wildlife habitat.
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Fruit-birds, Browse
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Water during summer drought. Use line trimmer to keep it at a pleasing height.

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:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

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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.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lycium carolinianum var. quadrifidum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-03-07
Research By: NPIS

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