Lycium exsertum
Arizona wolfberry, arizona desert-thorn
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Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Lycium exsertum (Arizona wolfberry) is a native California shrub in the Solanaceae family.
Arizona wolfberry is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native shrub found in desert canyons and washes at elevations around 260 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces greenish white to lavender flowers 7 to 14 millimeters long with five narrow lobes. Growing 1 to 4 meters tall with rigidly spreading branches that are densely glandular-hairy, it forms an open, erect shrub structure. Its leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, 5 to 25 millimeters long, appearing somewhat spoon-shaped along the branches. The fruit is a fleshy, red, ovoid berry 6 to 8 millimeters long, containing 10 to 35 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated but very limited range data
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, desert canyons
Elevation: 260 m
Outside California: to Arizona, northwest Mexico
Bloom period
Lycium exsertum blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
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 exsertum native to California?
Yes. Lycium exsertum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lycium exsertum bloom?
Lycium exsertum blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Lycium exsertum belong to?
Lycium exsertum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Lycium.
Is Lycium exsertum rare or endangered?
Lycium exsertum carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Lycium exsertum grow in?
Lycium exsertum grows in Washes, desert canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.