Lycium brevipes
Baja desert-thorn
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lycium brevipes (Baja desert-thorn) is a native California shrub in the Solanaceae family.
Baja desert-thorn is a California native shrub found in desert regions, growing in arid habitats at low elevations. Flowering from December to June, this plant produces lavender to white flowers in small clusters of 2 to 3 blossoms, each 4 to 10 millimeters long with a funnel-shaped form. Growing up to 3 meters tall with spreading branches, it forms an erect and somewhat open shrub with a glabrous or lightly glandular surface. Its leaves are small, approximately 5 to 15 millimeters long and roughly obovate in shape, providing a delicate texture to the plant's structure. The fruit is a bright red berry approximately 10 millimeters long, containing multiple small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, San Diego, Kings, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Kern
Outside California: northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Lycium brevipes blooms Dec-Jun.
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 brevipes native to California?
Yes. Lycium brevipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lycium brevipes bloom?
Lycium brevipes blooms Dec-Jun.
Where in California does Lycium brevipes grow?
Lycium brevipes occurs in Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, San Diego, Kings, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and other counties.
What plant family does Lycium brevipes belong to?
Lycium brevipes is in the Solanaceae family, genus Lycium.
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.