Welcome to the world of Lyceum carolinianum flowering bush. It is an exquisite evergreen shrub that captivates with its vibrant foliage, delicate flowers, and catchy fruits. Its graceful blooms in summer, distinctive berries in winter, and vibrant succulent leaves throughout the seasons would add a touch of taste to any landscape.
Commonly known as Carolina Desert-thorn, Christmas Berry, and Carolina Wolfberry, Lyceum carolinianum is an evergreen perennial fruit-bearing shrub native to the southeastern United States. The plant typically grows up to a height of 6 feet (2 m) when fully matured and produces 4-6 feet (1-2 m) long arching branches.
The usual width of Christmas Berry is around 4-6 feet (1-2 m) due to the spacious but lengthy growing manner of the branches. They are usually armed with thorns and produce light-green succulent leaves gathered in clusters. The foliage drops to the grown in dry weather as a drought-avoidance mechanism.
The bush produces fragrant lavender to blue flowers with 4 petals and 4 stamens. The blooms are followed by red berries that ripen in late fall or early winter. Being toxic when green, the ripe berries have a sweet, tomato-like flavor and serve as a source of food for many birds.
