Goji   /   Lycium barbarum

Geographic Origin: Europe, Asia.

Adult size: Height up to 3 metres.

Foliage: Deciduous.

Type of soil: Preferably not alkaline, dry and well aerated.

Climate: Hardy to -20°C.

Exposure: Partial shade to full sun.

Characteristics and uses: The Chinese wolfberry or Goji berry is a small shrub that is sought after for its berries. Its oblong shaped berries are reddish orange and edible, they appear between August and October. They are very rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and have been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. If dried and eaten daily they will have beneficial effects for the body and improve your health. In Chinese medicine the Goji berries are used in soups and vegetable or chicken dishes, to control the circulation of qi in the body.
The leaves of the Goji berry are long and slender. It has a bush like appearance. It is advisable to regularly pinch out the tips of the shoots as this helps strengthen the trunk and encourage further growth.