Goji berries, commonly known by their scientific names Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense, are woody, deciduous shrubs native to Asia, cultivated worldwide for their highly nutritious fruit. Understanding the mature size of a goji plant is important for gardeners, though this dimension is often misunderstood because the plant’s growth is highly variable. The final size a goji berry plant reaches depends heavily on its specific genetics, local growing conditions, and management practices like pruning.
The Typical Mature Size of Goji Plants
The goji berry plant naturally develops into a sprawling, often vine-like shrub with arching, cane-like branches. When allowed to grow untamed in an ideal outdoor environment, the species Lycium barbarum can attain substantial dimensions. Mature plants typically reach a height between 6 and 12 feet. The spread of the shrub is also impressive, often reaching 4 to 8 feet wide, and sometimes up to 13 feet in optimal conditions.
Goji plants focus on root development in their first year and begin bearing fruit in the second or third year. They do not reach their full, unmanaged mature height for five years or more. The plant’s growth habit is characterized by long, lax stems, which can make the shrub appear unruly if not supported or regularly cut back. These shrubs are vigorous growers, establishing a dense, bushy structure with a tendency to sucker and spread.
Key Environmental and Genetic Factors Affecting Growth
The final size of a goji plant is influenced by both its genetics and the external environment. Lycium barbarum exhibits more vigorous growth and a larger, vine-like habit compared to Lycium chinense, which is often shorter, growing 3 to 10 feet tall. Furthermore, specific named cultivars are bred to control size, such as the ‘Sweet Lifeberry’ variety, which is known for its more compact growth.
Environmental factors dictate the plant’s ultimate dimensions. Goji plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily; shadier conditions reduce vigor and overall size. Soil quality is also crucial: well-drained, slightly alkaline soil contributes to robust development, while poor drainage stunts growth by causing root issues. Although established goji berries are drought-tolerant, consistent deep watering promotes a healthier root system and allows the plant to achieve its maximum potential size.
Managing Plant Size Through Pruning
Due to the goji plant’s vigorous and sprawling nature, size control through pruning is standard practice for maintaining a manageable and productive shrub. Without regular intervention, the plant quickly becomes a dense, tangled thicket, hindering harvesting and reducing air circulation. Growers typically maintain a height of 4 to 6 feet, keeping the plants much smaller than their natural potential for easy picking.
The primary pruning is performed during the dormant season (late winter or early spring) to shape the plant and remove old, unproductive wood. This annual heavy pruning prevents the shrub from becoming overgrown and encourages new growth, which is where the fruit develops. Throughout the growing season, a technique called “tipping” or “pinching” is used. This involves removing the top few inches of new terminal growth, redirecting the plant’s energy into lateral side branches, resulting in a denser, more compact, and higher-yielding shrub.