Solanaceae

African boxthorn

Lycium ferocissimum Miers

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium

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African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) — FlowerPhoto: Daniel Cahen, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (3)

Afrikaans: Duinekriedoring
English: African boxthorn, Snake-berry
French: Lyciet d’Afrique du Sud, Lyciet féroce

Synonyms

Lycium tenue var. ferocissimum (Miers) A.Terracc.

Flowers

In flower: all year (from 593 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Characteristics

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

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Daniel Cahen, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Marios Thoma, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Jon Sullivan, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: John Barkla, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FruitPhoto: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Macleay Grass Man, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Macleay Grass Man, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: SAplants, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: SAplants, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Carl Ramirez, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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.