California box thorn
Lycium californicum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
36"–72" H × 36"–72" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
AZ, CA
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaThis boxthorn is a dense, thorny evergreen shrub with small fleshy leaves and small purple-white flowers that appear sporadically through the year. It grows on coastal bluffs and in dry scrub.
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees and hummingbirds, and the tangled, spiny branching provides secure nesting cover for small birds.
Common questions
- How much sun does California box thorn need?
- California box thorn grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does California box thorn bloom?
- California box thorn blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is California box thorn native?
- California box thorn (Lycium californicum) is native to AZ, CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does California box thorn attract?
- California box thorn draws bees and hummingbirds.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow California box thorn? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz