Carolina Wolfberry
Lycium carolinianum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Carolina wolfberry is a spiny, salt tolerant shrub of coastal marshes and dunes along the Gulf Coast, blooming for much of the year with small lavender flowers that draw bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Toxicity unknown
Carolina Wolfberry (Lycium carolinianum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Carolina Wolfberry as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
48"–72" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 3 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, nectar insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Carolina Wolfberry is a medium-sized evergreen shrub that produces small purple flowers nearly year-round followed by bright red berries. This native Texas plant thrives in full sun with regular water and maintains its foliage through winter. The berries are attractive to birds while the long blooming period supports pollinators consistently.
Growing Carolina Wolfberry
Grow Carolina Wolfberry in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 48 to 72 inches tall and spread 24 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Carolina Wolfberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
This shrub attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other nectar insects with its extended 12-month blooming period. The red berries provide food for birds and small wildlife.
Common questions
- How long does Carolina wolfberry stay in bloom?
- Carolina wolfberry can produce flowers in almost any month, with blooming often continuing through the warmer parts of the year in mild coastal climates.
- What light and water conditions does Carolina wolfberry need?
- It does best in full sun with steady moisture, and it is often found growing in salt marshes, brackish wetlands and sandy coastal soils that stay wet.
- What pollinators visit Carolina wolfberry flowers?
- The small tubular purple flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other nectar seeking insects.
- Does Carolina wolfberry lose its leaves in winter?
- It tends to be semi-evergreen, holding much of its foliage in mild coastal areas but thinning out during cooler spells or dry periods.
- Is Carolina Wolfberry toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Carolina Wolfberry as toxic to livestock.
- Is Carolina Wolfberry HOA-friendly?
- Carolina Wolfberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Carolina Wolfberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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