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Native Plant Database

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Lycium torreyi (Torrey wolfberry)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Lycium torreyi A. Gray

Torrey Wolfberry, Desert-thorn, Box-thorn, Squawberry, Rabbit-thorn, Tomatillo, Garambullo

Solanaceae (Potato Family)

USDA Symbol: LYTO

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Spiny (sometimes nearly unarmed), spreading to sprawling shrub often forming thickets. To 3 meters in height. Spatulate to oblanceolate-elliptic to 5 cm in length, borne thickly on the branches and dehiscing during droughts to be quickly replaced after rains. Flowers 1 to 3 in a fascicle, greenish-lavender to white, with five corolla lobes. Berries are bright red and juicy.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Oblanceolate , Spatulate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Texture: Leathery , Smooth
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: 6-9
Flower:
Fruit: Bright red. 6-10mm
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Often flowers after fall rains. Fruit is produced from June through September.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: TX, NM, AZ, UT, NV, CA and MX.
Native Habitat: Mesquite, Saltbush, Tarbush and Creosotebush scrubland near arroyos and on alkalai sacatons.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Fine, silty, alluvial soils.
Conditions Comments: West Texas from El Paso to Big Bend.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Berries are eaten by birds. Cover and habitat for birds and small mammals.
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-08
Research By: Joe Marcus

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