Chinese Wolfberry

Common Names: Chinese Wolfberry, Goji, 寧夏枸杞 (Níngxià gǒuqǐ), 枸杞 (gǒuqǐ)
Native Origin: China, Mongolia

From wikipedia: “Wolfberry is the common name for the fruit of two very closely related species: the Lycium barbarum (Chinese: 寧夏枸杞; pinyin: Níngxià gǒuqǐ) and the L. chinense (Chinese: 枸杞; pinyin: gǒuqǐ). Wolfberry species are deciduous woody perennial plants, growing 1-3 m high. L. chinense is grown in the south of China and tends to be somewhat shorter, while L. barbarum is grown in the north, primarily in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and tends to be somewhat taller. Renowned in Asia as a highly nutritious food, wolfberries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for about 1,900 years (Gross et al., 2006). Their undocumented legend, however, is considerably older, as wolfberries are often linked in Chinese lore to Shen Nung (Shennong), China’s legendary First Emperor, mythical father of agriculture, and herbalist who lived circa 2,800 BC.”

LEAVES
From wikipedia: “Wolfberry leaves form on the shoot either in an alternating arrangement or in bundles of up to three, each having a shape that is either lanceolate (shaped like a spearhead longer than it is wide) or ovate (egg-like). Leaf dimensions are 7 cm long by 3.5 cm wide with blunted or round tips.”

FLOWERS
From wikipedia: “One to three flowers occur on stems 1-2 cm in length. The calyx (eventually ruptured by the growing berry) is comprised of bell-shaped or tubular sepals forming short, triangular lobes. The corolla are lavender or light purple, 9-14 cm long with five or six lobes shorter than the tube. The stamens are structured with anthers that open lengthwise, shorter in length than the filaments. In the northern hemisphere, flowering occurs from June through September and berry maturation from August to October, depending on latitude, altitude, and climate.”

FRUITS
From wikipedia: “These species produce a bright orange-red, ellipsoid berry 1-2 cm long[11] photo. The number of seeds in each berry varies widely based on cultivar and fruit size, containing anywhere between 10-60 tiny yellow seeds that are compressed with a curved embryo. The berries ripen from July to October in the Northern hemisphere.”

CARE GUIDE

• very tolerant to full sun; prefer full sun exposure.
• grows very well in fertile soil mix but will grow in nutritionally poor soil; prefers (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils works fine with the Chinese Wolfberry. Note: it is important to ensure good drainage.
• water adequately and keep its soil moist but not soggy wet; do not allow the plant from drying out.
• quite hardy (USDA Hardiness Zone 7) cold resistant up to approximately -15’C. The Chinese Wolfberry requires frost protection when temperature drops below -15’C. Therefore, move the plant indoors accordingly.
• repot every 2-3 years

PLANT FOOD
Feed general purpose nutrients before new growth begins in Spring.

PRUNING x SHAPING
Trim and remove leaves/shoots/branches accordingly during the growing season. This will promote compact foliage and growth of new branches. The Chinese Wolfberry are very tolerant of pruning an can regrow from old wood. Note: pruning should be done early in Spring so that its stems can flower accordingly.

PROPAGATION
I do not have any propagation experience. But it can propagate via hardwood cuttings and seeds. According to Plant For A Future, seeds should be sowed in early Spring (preferably in a greenhouse). “Germination is usually good and fairly quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Pinch out the shoot tips of the young plants in order to encourage bushy growth. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 to 10cm with a heel if possible around July/August in individual pots in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season’s growth: around Autumn to late Winter in a cold frame.”

PESTS x DISEASES
Generally trouble free.