Plant Details

Lycium Barbarum

Goji, Box Thorn, Matrimony vine

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Common names

38 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Box Thorn
  • Chinese Boxthorn[1]
  • Duke of Argyll's Teaplant[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Goji
  • Goji berry[1]
  • Matrimony vine[1]
Other languages (27)
Dutch
  • Boksdoorn[1]
  • Goji-bes
French
  • Baies de Goji
  • Lyciet commun[1]
  • Lyciet de Barbarie[1]
Arabic
  • توت الذئب الصيني[1]
  • توت القوجي[1]
Armenian
  • Հազազ բերբերի[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 宁夏枸杞[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 寧夏枸杞[1]
Czech
  • kustovnice cizí[1]
Danish
Finnish
  • aitapukinpensas[1]
German
  • Gemeiner Bocksdorn[1]
Hebrew
  • אטד פראי[1]
Hungarian
  • közönséges ördögcérna[1]
Italian
  • Spina santa di Barberia[1]
Japanese
  • ナガバクコ[1]
Korean
  • 긴잎구기자나무[1]
Latvian
  • Godži[1]
  • Parastā līcija[1]
Lithuanian
  • Dygliuotasis ožerškis[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Kolcowój pospolity[1]
Romanian
  • Cătină de garduri[1]
Russian
  • Дереза обыкновенная[1]
Slovak
  • kustovnica cudzia[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna kustovnica[1]
Swedish
  • bocktörne[1]
Thai
  • เก๋ากี้[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Дереза звичайна[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lycium barbarum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • matrimony vine — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Duke of Argyll's Teaplant — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Goji berry — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Chinese Boxthorn — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Lyciet commun — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Lyciet de Barbarie — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Gemeiner Bocksdorn — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • kustovnice cizí — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Bukketorn — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Boksdoorn — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Дереза звичайна — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • bukketorn — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Дереза обыкновенная — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • 긴잎구기자나무 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • אטד פראי — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • aitapukinpensas — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Kolcowój pospolity — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Dygliuotasis ožerškis — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • ナガバクコ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • 寧夏枸杞 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • 宁夏枸杞 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • توت القوجي — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • توت الذئب الصيني — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Հազազ բերբերի — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • bocktörne — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • เก๋ากี้ — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Cătină de garduri — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Parastā līcija — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Godži — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • közönséges ördögcérna — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Spina santa di Barberia — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • kustovnica cudzia — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • navadna kustovnica — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.
  • Atlangaç — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 77902; Lycium barbarum.

General information

Scientific name: Lycium Barbarum
Accepted name (Kew): Lycium barbarum View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Solanaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lycium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Goji, Box Thorn, Matrimony vine
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.50 m
Spread: 4.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Hedge

Description

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is a berry of about 2 cm in diameter with a mild sweet licorice flavor. Only fully ripe fruits should be eaten. Young shoots can be cooked and are mainly used as a flavoring. They can also be lightly boiled for 3-4 minutes and used as a vegetable. The taste is somewhat cherry-like, but some also find it mint-like. The leaves should be used quickly after harvesting and may require caution. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute. Please refer to the notes at the top of the page for more information.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Lycium barbarum L., name ID 2499019, row 236172; Lycium barbarum Lam., name ID 2499020, row 597528; Lycium barbarum Mill., name ID 2499017, row 597529
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 231832; name ID 2496327; Lycium L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Lycium barbarum — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .