Lycium californicum
California box-thorn
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Lycium californicum (California box-thorn) is a native California shrub in the Solanaceae family, recognized by cylindrical leaves and coastal habitat.
California box-thorn is a native shrub found in southern Coastal California and the Channel Islands in coastal bluffs and coastal-sage scrub at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces white flowers with purple tinting or veining, 4 to 6 millimeters long, typically emerging in clusters of 2 to 3. Growing as a prostrate to erect shrub up to 2 meters tall with rigidly spreading branches, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are small and fleshy, 3 to 10 millimeters long, linear-cylindric to nearly spherical and almost round in cross-section. The fruit is a firm orange to red drupe 3 to 6 millimeters long, containing two enclosed seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are cylindrical leaves and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, coastal-sage scrub
Elevation: < 150 m
California counties: Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Lycium californicum blooms (Dec)Mar-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 californicum native to California?
Yes. Lycium californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lycium californicum bloom?
Lycium californicum blooms (Dec)Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Lycium californicum grow?
Lycium californicum occurs in Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, at elevations of < 150 m.
What plant family does Lycium californicum belong to?
Lycium californicum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Lycium.
Is Lycium californicum rare or endangered?
Lycium californicum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.