Lycium carolinianum
Christmas Berry

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, it does belong to a family that contains many poisonous plants. Some caution should be applied, especially towards leaves or unripe fruits, though ripe fruits are almost certainly edible.

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked. Rather pleasant eating, the fruit has a slightly salty taste^[1]. The fruit is a berry up to 12mm in diameter^[2]. Only the fully ripe fruits should be eaten[K].

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants have an extensive root system and can be planted to stabilize banks^[2].

There are no material uses listed for Lycium carolinianum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers^[3].

Unknown part

Cancer

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring 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^[4].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel if possible, July/August in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage^[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, autumn to late winter in a cold frame. High percentage^[4]^[2]. Division of suckers in late winter. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Lycium carolinianum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils^[5]. It does not require a rich soil, flowering and fruiting better in a well-drained soil of moderate quality^[5]. Succeeds in impoverished soils^[2]. Requires a sunny position^[2]. Tolerates maritime exposure^[2]. This species is not very hardy outside the milder areas of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c^[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lycium carolinianum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Lycium carolinianum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5^2.6^2.7^2.8^2.9 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-183-1] ? ^1.0^1.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5^2.6^2.7^2.8^2.9 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-214-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-5] ? ^5.0^5.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

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[5]

Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Solanaceae +
Belongs to genus	Lycium +
Functions as	Earth stabiliser +
Has binomial name	Lycium carolinianum +
Has common name	Christmas Berry +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has environmental tolerance	Maritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility type	Bees +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	8 +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	1.5 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Cancer +
Has search name	lycium carolinianum + and christmas berry +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Lycium carolinianum +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Evergreen +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	No +
PFAF material use notes migrated	No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	No +
Tolerates maritime exposure	Yes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Lycium carolinianum + and Lycium carolinianum +