Solanaceae

California desert-thorn

Lycium californicum Nutt. ex A.Gray

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium

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California desert-thorn (Lycium californicum) — FlowerPhoto: Millie Basden, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (2)

arz: ليسيوم كاليفورنيكوم
English: California desert-thorn

Synonyms

Lycium californicum subsp. californicum
Lycium californicum subsp. carinatum (S.Watson) Felger
Lycium californicum var. arizonicum A.Gray
Lycium californicum var. californicum
Lycium carolinianum subsp. californicum (Nutt. ex A.Gray) A.Terracc.
Lycium carolinianum var. arizonicum (A.Gray) A.Terracc.
Lycium carolinianum var. californicum A.Terracc.

Flowers

In flower: September, November to April (from 95 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Shrub
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Lower 48 states: native

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Millie Basden, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Ingo Renner, CC0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Henrik Kibak, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Millie Basden, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
LeavesPhoto: Aaron Kreisberg, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Millie Basden, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: laiet17, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons

More in Lycium

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.