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Accession Data:

Lycium barbarum L.

  • Common Name: Wolfberry, Goji Berry
  • Family: Solanaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: temperate China

  • Description: Wolfberries are a bright orange-red, ellipsoid berry which are reputed to have properties of nourishing the blood, enriching the yin, tonifying the kidney and liver and are often promoted in the west as a 'superfood'. Most claims have limited supporting research to date however.
  • Uses: This herb is used to strengthen blood health and kidney functions. TCM promotes usage for back aches, impotence, and blurred vision as these symptoms relate to Yin deficiency. By working through the liver and kidney channels, this herb may replenish energy declining in elderly.

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • USDA Zone: 5-9

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 200900049
  • Source: Marsh Botanic Gardens - Yale
  • Accession Date: 05-13-2009
  • Bench: 2304 - Temperate Asia - Low
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 06-24-2024

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: euasterid I
  • Order: Solanales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Solanaceae
  • SubFamily: Solanoideae
  • Tribe: Lycieae
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants - Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • Medicinal Plants - Circulatory System
  • Medicinal Plants - Integumentary System
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: China South-Central / Inner Mongolia / China North-Central / Qinghai / Xinjiang

References (external):

  1. Wikipedia
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Friday, June 30, 2017.
  3. Lycium barbarum at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Friday, June 30, 2017.
  4. Lycium barbarum at Plants for a Future. Last accessed on Friday, June 30, 2017.
  5. Lycium at Institute for Traditional Medicine. Last accessed on Friday, June 30, 2017.
  6. Images #00 (cropped) and #01 (original) by By Sten Porse (Self-published work by Sten Porse) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

data regenerated on Sat, 25 Jan 2025 12:06:07 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Lycium barbarum

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

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Tribe Cestreae

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Subfamily Petunioideae

  • Brunfelsia undulata W/C

Subfamily Solanoideae

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  • Solandra longiflora
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Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Capsiceae

  • Capsicum chinense
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Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Datureae

  • Brugmansia pittieri W/C
  • Brugmansia suaveolens
  • Brugmansia versicolor

Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Hyoscyameae

  • Atropa belladonna

Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Juanulloeae

  • Juanulloa aurantiaca

Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Lycieae

  • Lycium barbarum
  • Lycium carolinianum

Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Physaleae

  • Iochrominae: Iochroma cyaneum Royal Blue
  • Iochrominae: Iochroma fuchsioides
  • Withaninae: Withania riebeckii W/C
  • Withaninae: Withania somnifera

Subfamily Solanoideae
Tribe Solaneae

  • Jaltomata quipuscoae
  • Solanum conocarpum
  • Solanum conocarpum
  • Solanum ensifolium
  • Solanum ensifolium W/C
  • Solanum seaforthianum
  • Solanum wendlandii
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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