Fremont's desert-thorn Solanaceae Lycium fremontii A. Gray Listen to the Latin symbol: LYFR Other Fact Sheets
Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, broadly obovate to spatulate, entire margins, blue to gray-green, somewhat thickened or even succulent.
Flower: Species is monoecious; narrow tubular, 5 lobed, 1/2 inch long, lavender to purple, appearing in primarily late winter to early spring, some throughout the year.
Fruit: Fleshy, juicy, orange-red, oval berries (resemble small tomatoes), 1/2 to 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 shrub up to 9 feet tall.
Looks like: Anderson boxthorn - Baja desert-thorn - bitter condalia - blackbrush
leaf flower fruit twig bark form map
Additional Range Information:
Lycium fremontii is native to North America. It is not widely planted. See states reporting Fremont's desert-thorn. 		External Links:
USDA Plants Database 		Copyright 2011
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