Are Lycium Barbarum and Lycium Chinense in the same botanical family?

Yes — both belong to Solanaceae.

Can you substitute Lycium Barbarum for Lycium Chinense?

They are close relatives in the genus Lycium, often substitutable with flavor adjustments.

Compare · per-herb profile

Lycium Barbarum vs Lycium Chinense

Lycium barbarum · Lycium chinense

Lycium Barbarum

Lycium barbarum

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Primary use: medicinal

Lycium barbarum is a shrub native to China, with present-day range across Asia and southeast Europe. It is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium chinense.

Lycium Chinense

Lycium chinense

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Primary use: medicinal

Lycium chinense is one of two species of boxthorn shrub in the family Solanaceae. Along with Lycium barbarum, it produces the goji berry ("wolfberry"). Two varieties are recognized, L. chinense var. chinense and L. chinense var. potaninii. It is also known as Chinese boxthorn, Ch…

At a glance

· Same genus (Lycium) — close relatives, often substitutable.
· Both are primarily medicinal.
· Evidence tiers — Lycium Barbarum: T; Lycium Chinense: T.