Ripe Goji berries.

A fruit that has been around and used by herbalists for more than 6000 years and is claimed to have anti-ageing properties, with many other benefits, is getting popular rapidly as people seek quick-fixes for their health problems.

Goji berries have been used in China/Tibet for thousands of years as a longevity and medicinal food to- protect the liver, help eyesight and boost immune function.  Over the past few years scientific analysis has also tried to uncover some goji secrets. It’s been reported that the fresh Goji berry has approximately 5 times more antioxidants than any other food, as well as a full range of fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The scientific research is focused on several of Goji’s unique polysaccharides, which are supposedly found in no other food.

Also known as Wolfberry, Goji Berry (lysium barbarum) plants are now available to New Zealand gardeners. Glucina’s nursery at Matakana, north of Auckland, recently released the new plants to garden centres throughout the country. It is a wholesale production nursery supplying indoor and outdoor tropical foliage to plant and garden centres nationwide.

“We specialise in supporting new varieties of plants. About two years ago we started experimenting with the Goji berry plant. The cultivar we have been working on starts producing berries after its second year and is fully productive by year five – producing loads of the little red berries throughout summer/autumn,” owner Kevin Glucina told Rural Living.

Goji juice, dried berries and chocolate coated Gojis have been the latest health trend around the world. The world wide demand for the little red berries means they have been quite expensive to buy. Goji plant has its origin in the Himalayan triangle of Tibet, China and Mongolia, but nearly 100 per cent of the world’s commercial production is in the fertile river deltas of China.

“Growing your own has never come at a better time, as people seem to be interested in growing their own Goji plants.” he said.

Glucina's nursery with baby plants.

The plant is a deciduous long living perennial, which develops a trunk not dissimilar to an old grape vine. It can grow to 3m tall with multiple fruit bearing branches but pruning to suit your site is alright for small gardens. It is said to tolerate a massive temperature range from –15 deg C right up to + 40 deg C making it suitable for growing throughout NZ. The plant does well in most well drained soil types but, like most other plants, needs protection from slugs, snails and rabbits in its first year.

“It’s a little tricky in initial stages of production and needs to be on stakes for the first two years. But once it grows older, from the pot stage into the ground, it grows quite quickly.”

According to Kevin, the plant has commercial potential in New Zealand. As well as the berries being delicious fresh, Goji leaves are also used as a nutritious vegetable. Goji extracts are being incorporated into cosmetics, tea, coffee, breakfast cereals, health supplements, sports drinks and alcoholic beverages.

As well as hosting various anti-cancer compounds, its muscle boosting/energy recovery properties are also being studied. One of its components called zeaxanthin is believed to reduce macular degeneration of the eye. A recent research by Dr Vivienne Reeve, University of Sydney research scientist, suggested it also appears to suppress skin cancer growth.