Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Wolfberry
Wolfberry is a Sonoran Desert shrub that grows wild across the Valley and needs very little water once it is rooted. Small lavender flowers show up in late winter and spring and again in late summer or fall, and hummingbirds and bees visit them. Small red berries follow, and birds come for the fruit and use the branches for shelter. It is a good fit for a wildlife garden, a native planting or a natural barrier along a property line.
Best for: wildlife and bird gardens, native desert plantings, informal barrier hedges along a property line, and spots under mesquite or ironwood trees.
Birds eat the small red berries and shelter in the dense branches. Hummingbirds and bees visit the lavender flowers in spring and again in late summer or fall. Plant a few together for the most cover.
Set plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a loose, thorny hedge along a property line or back fence. Each shrub grows about 4 to 10 feet tall and about as wide.
In the wild it often grows under mesquite and ironwood, and it takes light shade there. It grows well in full sun too, so it fits open native beds as well.
It drops its leaves in dry spells and cold weather and can look bare until rain brings new leaves. The branch tips are thorny, so keep it back from paths and play areas.
- Barrier hedge3 ft apart, center to center
- Looser wildlife planting4 ft apart, center to center
Water a new plant every few days at first, then stretch the time between soaks over the first two months. Keep giving it a deep soak through its first summer.
Once it is rooted it needs very little water. An occasional deep soak in a long dry spell is enough.
It drops its leaves in drought and cold and grows new ones after rain. Do not add water to keep it green.
The branch tips are sharp. Plant it where people do not brush past, and wear gloves when you trim or pick berries.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does wolfberry get?
It usually grows about 4 to 10 feet tall and about as wide, with a loose, spreading shape. It grows at a moderate pace, so give it room to fill in.
How far apart should I plant wolfberry?
Plant it about 3 to 4 feet apart for a hedge or a group. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
How much water does wolfberry need?
Very little once it is rooted. Water a new plant regularly through its first summer, then it gets by on rain and an occasional deep soak in long dry spells.
Why did my wolfberry lose its leaves?
It drops its leaves in drought and in cold weather, then grows new ones after rain. That is normal, so do not keep watering to hold the leaves on.
Are wolfberry berries edible?
Yes, the small red berries are edible fresh or dried. Birds eat them too, so they often find the ripe fruit first.
Does wolfberry attract birds and hummingbirds?
Yes. Birds eat the berries and shelter in the branches, and hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit the flowers. That makes it a good native shrub for a bird garden.
Does wolfberry have thorns?
Yes, the branches are thorny, with sharp tips. Plant it back from walkways and play areas, and wear gloves when you work around it.
When does wolfberry bloom?
It flowers in late winter and spring and often again in late summer or fall. The flowers are small, tubular and lavender, and red berries follow them.
Is wolfberry native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of Arizona, California, Nevada and northwest Mexico.
How cold hardy is wolfberry?
It is rated to about 20°F, and cold weather can make it drop its leaves. It leafs out again when it warms up and rain returns.
What soil does wolfberry need?
It grows in sand, loam or clay, from slightly acidic to very alkaline, as long as the soil drains. Rocky desert soil suits it well.
Is wolfberry messy?
No. It drops very little litter, so it is easy to keep along a wall or property line.
Wolfberry for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Wolfberry is a native shrub that feeds and shelters desert birds. It grows wild in the Sonoran Desert, flowers twice a year and carries small red berries, all on very little water. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and spacing to water, thorns, leaf drop and wildlife.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Wolfberry in Phoenix
Wolfberry is a Sonoran Desert shrub that grows wild in the Valley. It needs very little water once rooted and grows in full sun or light shade.
How far apart to plant wolfberry
Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a hedge or a group. Each shrub grows about 4 to 10 feet tall and about as wide.
Wolfberry for birds
Birds eat the small red berries and shelter in the thorny branches. Hummingbirds and bees visit the flowers.
Why is my wolfberry bare?
Wolfberry drops its leaves in drought and in cold weather, then leafs out again after rain. It is resting, not dying, so there is no need to water more.
Are wolfberries edible?
Yes, the small red berries are edible fresh or dried. Birds eat them too, and they come for the fruit as it ripens.
Watering wolfberry
Water a new plant regularly through its first summer. After that it gets by on rain and an occasional deep soak in a long dry spell.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.