Lycium andersonii
Anderson's wolfberry
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lycium andersonii (Anderson's wolfberry) is a native California shrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by small linear-oblanceolate leaves and small fruits.
Anderson's wolfberry is a California native shrub found in southern Tehama, southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California Coast, northern Western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, southeastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert regions in gravelly or rocky slopes and washes at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white to violet-tinged flowers 4 to 16 millimeters long with narrow funnel-shaped corollas. Growing 0.5 to 3 meters tall with spreading to erect branches that are nearly glabrous or slightly hairy, it forms an open, distinctive desert shrub. Its leaves are 3 to 15 millimeters long, thick and fleshy, with a linear to oblanceolate shape that helps the plant conserve water in arid environments. The fruit is a small red or orange berry 3 to 8 millimeters long, containing numerous seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are small linear-oblanceolate leaves and small fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly or rocky slopes, washes
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Orange, Ventura, Mono, Mariposa
Outside California: to Utah, New Mexico, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Lycium andersonii blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Lycium has small tubular nightshade flowers; Prunus has 5-petaled rose-family flowers with many stamens.; vs Salvia: Lycium has thorny branches; Salvia has square stems and 2-lipped mint-family flowers without thorns.; vs Ceanothus: Lycium has thorns and tubular flowers; Ceanothus has tiny clustered flowers and no thorns.; vs Tetradymia: Lycium has tubular nightshade flowers; Tetradymia has yellow daisy-like composite flowers.; vs Atriplex: Lycium has tubular flowers and thorns; Atriplex has tiny wind-pollinated flowers without petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lycium andersonii native to California?
Yes. Lycium andersonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lycium andersonii bloom?
Lycium andersonii blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Lycium andersonii grow?
Lycium andersonii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Lycium andersonii belong to?
Lycium andersonii is in the Solanaceae family, genus Lycium.
What habitat does Lycium andersonii grow in?
Lycium andersonii grows in Gravelly or rocky slopes, washes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.