🍎 Goji Berry

Lycium barbarum
fruits Perennial
G
☀️ Sun
Full sun
💧 Water
Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
🗺️ Zones
5–9
🪴 Soil Type
Well-draining sandy loam; tolerates poor soils
🧪 Soil pH
6.5–8.0
💧 Drainage
Well-draining
📏 Spacing
4–6 ft
📐 Height
6–10 ft
📅 Days to Maturity
730–1095 (2–3 years from planting)

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ Berries🍽️ young leaves (cooked)

🤝 Companions (8)

Mulch, nutrient accumulator
🤝 Marigold
Pest deterrent
Deters aphids
Attracts beneficial insects
Attracts pollinators
Pollinator attractant
🤝 Clover
Nitrogen fixer, ground cover
Attracts beneficial insects

⚠️ Keep Apart (3)

Shares blight susceptibility (Solanaceae)
Same family, pest/disease overlap
Solanaceae pest/disease risk

💊 Medicinal Uses

High in antioxidants (zeaxanthin), vitamin C, iron; traditional tonic for eyes, liver, and kidney; immune support and anti-aging.

📜 History & Traditional Uses

Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years; symbol of longevity; consumed as tea, soup ingredient, and dried snack.

📝 Notes

Deciduous woody shrub; self-fertile; produces orange-red berries; can be invasive via suckering; prune annually for best production.