Russian Box Thorn

The fruit is an important traditional medicinal herb in the cultures of central Asia. It's high in vitamins (especially A, C, and E), min...Read Moreerals, essential fatty acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, and it's being explored as a nutriceutical for sale in western markets. It should only be eaten when fully ripe.

The fruits are small, and their dimensions are not mentioned by those promoting this new fruit. Said to be tasty, and a few will color a glass of water a vivid purple/blue.

This spiny deciduous shrub requires full sun and well-drained soil. An easy and adaptable plant, it tolerates drought, salt, impoverished soil, and wind, including maritime exposure. Adaptable as to soil pH.

From its native range (the cold, high-elevation deserts of central Asia, to 9800'), its winter hardiness should be considerably greater than that indicated above. There seems to be some confusion between USDA Z6 and UK Z6 in online sources and above.

It may also be propagated from cuttings, by layering, and by dividing suckers.

Black Gojiberry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) is very cold hardy shrub. Its dark berries is popular in Asia now. Easy to grow from seeds wh...Read Moreich you can get some seeds each berry from purchased dried berries. -- It is the cheapest way to get seeds!

I am surprised more people aren't growing this!!! I ordered my seeds from their origin on ebay and started growing this indoors, the plan...Read Moret is extremely prone to fungus when they sprout but when they grow, they really take off, seems to enjoy being a houseplant for now. I live in Florida so I won't risk bringing this one out there. I plan to take some cuttings when this plant grows large enough and try them outside. I will update whether or not this plant likes Florida. It seems to really grow vigorously indoors in a south west facing window!