PlantFiles: Christmasberry
Lycium carolinianum

Christmasberry is a shrub or small tree that usually grows up to around 15 or 20 feet high. It is usually around 5 to 12 or 13 feet high.

It is native to coastal habitats, salt marshes, beach dunes, coastal ridges and sandy coastal habitats (including coastal scrubs) in the southeastern United States from South Carolina south through Florida, west along the Gulf coast into Texas (zones 8a to 11). It is also known as Carolina Desert-thorn.

The berries may provide food for wildlife, but have been known to cause vomiting if eated by people.

This is a highly useful plant for coastal situations, as it is very salt-tolerant.

The small flowers are pink to violet or light purple (lavender).

This is an attractive shrub adapted to dry scrub and sandy beach soils. The pretty lavender flowers are followed by bright red berries. Though they are appealing, the fruit should be avoided, especially by children. Vomiting has been reported after consuming it.

Lycium has been used in folk medicine to treat maladies from rheumatism to cancer.