# Pale Wolfberry (*Lycium pallidum*) The Pale Wolfberry is a small shrub that grows in dry places. It has pretty purple flowers and small berries that can be eaten, but be careful, they are not very tasty! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Pale Wolfberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lycium_pallidum_4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lycium_pallidum_4.jpg) ## Appearance The Pale Wolfberry is a thorny, bushy shrub with slender stems. It has small, grayish-green leaves and tubular flowers that range from pale purple to creamy white. Its most striking feature is its bright orange to red berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Solanales - **Family:** Solanaceae - **Genus:** Lycium ## Interesting facts - It's a cousin to your favorite foods like tomatoes, potatoes, and chili peppers! - Its scientific name, Lycium, may come from an ancient region in Turkey called Lycia! - Native American tribes traditionally used parts of this plant for various purposes. - This tough plant helps stop soil from washing away in dry, windy places. ## Special abilities - **Deep Drinker:** Pale Wolfberry can grow deep roots that help it find water, allowing it to survive in very dry deserts. - **Spiny Shield:** Pale Wolfberry has sharp thorns that protect its branches and leaves from hungry animals. - **Berry Bounty:** Pale Wolfberry has bright, juicy berries that attract birds, helping to spread its seeds far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps spread pollen from its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Phainopepla](https://www.snappit.app/explore/phainopepla) (*Phainopepla nitens*) — Feeds on its nutritious berries. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Enjoys eating the sweet, red berries. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat the berries without asking an adult first, as they might not taste good! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pale Wolfberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Pale Wolfberry? 50-200 cm ### How wide does Pale Wolfberry spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Pale Wolfberry? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Pale Wolfberry bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is Pale Wolfberry edible? Yes ### Is Pale Wolfberry toxic? Mild ### What is Pale Wolfberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chaco Culture National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chaco-culture-national-historical-park) — New Mexico, US · National Park - [Last Chance Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/last-chance-canyon) — California, US · Natural Landmark ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pale Wolfberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pale-wolfberry)