Goji berries are a delicious and healthy fruit that isn't commonly grown in North America. I recently had the chance to meet with Peter Breederland of Gojoy, an innovative farm that is bringing fresh gojis to British Columbia and beyond.
WOW! This was super cool! I am so amazed by this. I grew Goji berries, and they grew super well. But the fact someone is growing them commercially is just amazing! Very very cool guys.
They are, Rebecca...the 3 varieties I have are Lycium Fremontii Wolfberry (hermaphroditic), Lycium Andersonii Wolfberry & Lycium Pallidum Wolfberry. There are some here in the low desert environment of metropolitan Phx, Arizona, US (where I live) that are growing the Lycium Barbarum featured here, but it needs a definite parent tree shade microclimate, along with good mulch protection and I think fairs much better with a pollinator. Mine are young still but should have decent fruit this yr :)
There are several species of Lycium, aka wolfberry or Christmas berry or matrimony vine or boxthorn or desert thornnative to various regions of the USA. If one grew here, we would choose it over an imported species. Lycium carolinianum, aka Christmas berry or wolfberry, grows from South Carolina southward to the Gulf States. Other species are native to upland Texas, Arizona, California, and there is even a species native to Santa Catalina island, called a desert-thorn.
I just scored a wonderful goji berry from my favorite local nursery. I was quite surprised to see it there. it is a great plant. It is on a trellis and 2.5 feet tall. I am hoping to get fruit this summer.
