FNPS Plant Database

Lycium carolinianum

Christmasberry
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton (Curry Hammock State Park)
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Christmasberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lycium carolinianum

Family:

Solanaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

6-8 ft tall by 3-5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

purple

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Evergreen unless drought-stressed. Blooms Fall into winter. Fruits in winter.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant, hedge plant

Considerations:

Toxic to livestock. Green fruits toxic to humans.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds

Nectar plant for great southern white ( Ascia monuste ), gulf fritillary ( Agraulis vanillae ) and other butterflies as well as sphinx moths.



  •  Fruits are eaten by birds (Florida Wildflower Foundation)


  • Attracts hummingbirds (Hammer)


Native Habitats:

Salt marsh, salt flats.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit is said to be edible (ONLY IF RIPE) (reported by Plants for the Future)

General Comments:

Succulent foliage.



This plant is in the tomato family.  FNPS cannot vouch that the fruit is edible.

Citations:

Florida Wildflower Foundation. (2025). Flower Friday: Christmasberry. ( https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-lycium-carolinianum/ ). Accessed 2026. Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland.


Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Lycicaro ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Gilman, Edward. (2007). Lycium Carolinianum Christmas Berry, Carolina Desert-Thorn (FP356). ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP356 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Plants for a Future. (Undated). Lycium carolinianum , Christmas Berry. ( https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lycium+carolinianum ). Accessed 2026.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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