Lycium chinense Seeds | Chinese Wolfberry
.jpeg "Chinese Wolfberry seeds (Lycium chinense)")
LATIN NAME: Lycium chinense
COMMON NAME: Chinese Wolfberry
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Chinese Wolfberry (Lycium chinense) stands out as a deciduous shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It likes sun, and well-drained soil. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Lycium chinense, a representative of the nightshade family with clear practical value. Bright-red berries of the Chinese wolfberry give it a recognised place in research on nutrient-dense small fruits of nightshade family, and chinense species appears in studies of berry polysaccharides and traditional berry and leaf uses. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
Chinese Wolfberry works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. In warm, sunny garden, the Chinese wolfberry rubies late-summer garden with red berries. Berries serve teas, soups and dried snacks of old kitchens for generations, leaves cook as greens, and purple flowers open for the bees. It grows well in well-drained, sunny ground. Getting it going is easy; keeping it going is easier still.
Chinese wolfberry gives both goji berries and the root bark Di Gu Pi, a classical cooling herb; the berries are eaten daily across China in soups and teas.
Growing from Seed
Chinese Wolfberry grows readily from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Few garden plants carry such a documented history of use as this one does. Chinese Wolfberry is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Give the seed freshness and steady moisture, and nature handles the rest.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Chinese Wolfberry: