Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

Anderson boxthorn Solanaceae Lycium andersonii A. Gray Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: LYAN
Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, 1/4 to 1 inch long, broadly obovate to spatulate, entire margins, finely hairy, blue to gray-green, somewhat thickened (thickness known to vary by variety).
Flower: Species is monoecious; narrow tubular, 5 lobed, 1/4 to 3/8 inch long, light purple to nearly white, appearing in late winter to early spring.
Fruit: Fleshy orange-red, oval berries (resemble small tomatoes), 3/8 inch long, hang downward, ripen in spring, edible.
Twig: Stiff, light brown but turning gray, and spine-tipped, leaves appear on short spurs.
Bark: Irregular, interlacing, shallow furrows with shreddy flat ridges.
Form: Densely branched, spiny, rounded shrub up to 8 feet tall (most often 3 to 5 feet).
 Looks like: Baja desert-thorn - Fremont's desert-thorn - bitter condalia - blackbrush

Anderson boxthorn leaf image
Anderson boxthorn flower image
Anderson boxthorn fruit image
Anderson boxthorn twig image
Anderson boxthorn bark image
Anderson boxthorn form image
Anderson boxthorn map image

Additional Range Information: Lycium andersonii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information