Vermilion Sunset® Goji
Description
Grow your own superfood! Long arching stems feature silver-green foliage, lavender flowers, and brilliant red-orange fruit. Easy-care plants require very little pruning, but will need support to keep fruit off the ground. Goji berries are high in antioxidants — enjoy fresh or dried as a healthy addition to salads, smoothies, salsa, and more. Freeze harvest for nutritious snacks any time! Cold-hardy and heat-tolerant. Ripens starting in July through first hard frost. Self-pollinating.
125% Survival Guarantee!
Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will issue a one-time merchandise credit to your account equaling 125% of the original product purchase price. Read more about our warranty policy.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | Purple |
| Fruit Color | Red |
| Fruit Size | Small |
| Pollination | Self-Pollinating |
| Ripens/Harvest | July Through Frost |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Taste | Unique |
| Texture | Smooth, Juicy |
| Years to Bear | 3 - 7 |
| Zone Range | 3 - 10 |
Zone Compatibility
This Variety's Zone Range
3 - 10
My Hardiness Zone
?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
When your plant matures, it will be approximately 3 - 6' tall x 3 - 6' wide.
Recommended Spacing
We recommend spacing these plants 6' apart to ensure room for growth.
Pollination
This variety is self pollinating.
In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!
Tools & Supplies
Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow goji berry plants in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Shipping Information
Arrives when it's time to plant
Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.
Questions & Answers
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Browse 11 questions
Browse 11 questions
and 47 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Nutritional value
M Lynne S
on Apr 1, 2021
Supposed to survive South Florida.
Stlevanna I
on Feb 13, 2021
Nutritional value
M Lynne S
on Apr 1, 2021
nutrients !
alia P
on Mar 14, 2021
what is the background on this plant? Does it have any essential characteristic that are different from other goji's? I have several varieties and strains already
BEST ANSWER: I live at the edge of zone3-4 so this plants hardiness was the reason for buying. None of the other strains will survive this far north.
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- Inaccurate
- ALEXANDER A on Dec 16, 2016
- Purchased on Feb 11, 2015
Do I need to prune my vermillion sunset goji?
BEST ANSWER: You don't need to, but you will want to because you'll get a LOT more fruit. Here's how:
In the first year, don't prune the plant at all. In the second year, prune off all stems in the early spring. Leave the largest stem to serve as the main trunk and remove any other shoots. When that main trunk stem gets to be about 2' tall, trip off the tip and that will encourage side-branching. Over the summer, remove shoots from the main trunk that grow at more than a 45?? angle, but leave 3 or 4 shoots that grow at less than a 45?? angle. These branches will produce the fruit. Leave a sturdy vertical shoot near where you trimmed off the main trunk ... that will be next year's main trunk.
In the third year, summer pruning is a must. New shoots will pop out where branches have been removed - this is where most of the fruit will develop. New shoots around the bottom of the plant and in the ground around the plant (which are edible, by the way) should all be removed or they can become invasive. Keep following the "45?? Rule" as described above. You want to end up with a well-shaped plant about 6' tall, with a 3' horizontal canopy that begins at least a foot off the ground. Once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature!
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In the first year, don't prune the plant at all. In the second year, prune off all stems in the early spring. Leave the largest stem to serve as the main trunk and remove any other shoots. When that main trunk stem gets to be about 2' tall, trip off the tip and that will encourage side-branching. Over the summer, remove shoots from the main trunk that grow at more than a 45?? angle, but leave 3 or 4 shoots that grow at less than a 45?? angle. These branches will produce the fruit. Leave a sturdy vertical shoot near where you trimmed off the main trunk ... that will be next year's main trunk.
In the third year, summer pruning is a must. New shoots will pop out where branches have been removed - this is where most of the fruit will develop. New shoots around the bottom of the plant and in the ground around the plant (which are edible, by the way) should all be removed or they can become invasive. Keep following the "45?? Rule" as described above. You want to end up with a well-shaped plant about 6' tall, with a 3' horizontal canopy that begins at least a foot off the ground. Once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature!
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- Inaccurate
- LeAnn Staff on Jul 20, 2016
It will take 2-3 years before I have any goji berries on my plant?
BEST ANSWER: If there are berries that are growing any earlier, my research says to remove them for the long-term yield. My plants are healthy-looking however, and I am quite excited for the harvest!
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- Inaccurate
- Dana M on Mar 8, 2016
- Purchased on Sep 9, 2015
What is the SCIENTIFIC name of the Goji Berry Plant you sell?
BEST ANSWER: We have many cultivars, but the species' botanical name is Lycium barbarum. Lycium chinense doesn't produce edible fruit.
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- Inaccurate
- LeAnn Staff on Mar 25, 2019
I have yet to red where anyone likes how these taste. How do we get a shrub where the fruit is as tasty in its natural state as in the store?
BEST ANSWER: My bush has a large quantity of berries just like their photo, but the taste is not very good. Some grocery stores have them if you want to try. I do not care for them.
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- Inaccurate
- MATT D on Oct 13, 2016
- Purchased on Mar 7, 2015
Is there a way to tell the difference between Vermillion Sunset and Big/Sweet Life berry varieties? I forgot to label properly after planting out. They are all doing great though.
BEST ANSWER: In my experience, Vermilion Sunset's leaves are smaller when they first come on after dormancy, but the fruit is more or less the same size as Sweet Lifeberry. Big Lifeberry's fruit is larger, so that one should be easy enough to distinguish once the plants are fruiting.
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- Sarah D Staff on Apr 26, 2016
Does it have thorns.?
BEST ANSWER: They do have some woody thorns but I haven't found them to be problematic.Wearing gloves while harvesting might be a good idea.
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- Inaccurate
- Mike S on Apr 29, 2019
- Purchased on May 21, 2017
What time of year is best for planting goji berries?
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Because weather and soil conditions vary so much from year to year and even within your zone, it's best to think of your planting time as a range of favorable conditions instead of an exact time.
You can plant new plants and trees: 1) when the ground is not frozen, 2) when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32??F) and below 90??F, and 3) when extreme weather (blizzard, hail, torrential rain, etc.) is not in the forecast. Be sure to keep plants watered if you're transplanting in warm and/or dry weather.
You can plant new plants and trees: 1) when the ground is not frozen, 2) when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32??F) and below 90??F, and 3) when extreme weather (blizzard, hail, torrential rain, etc.) is not in the forecast. Be sure to keep plants watered if you're transplanting in warm and/or dry weather.
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- Inaccurate
- LeAnn Staff on Sep 10, 2018
Do you have Black Pearl Goji plant if so how much?
BEST ANSWER: We appreciate you reaching out to us. Unfortunately we do not offer this variety.
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
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- Inaccurate
- TiffanyF Staff on Jan 28, 2021
How soon will either mulberries or goji bear fruit?
BEST ANSWER: We appreciate you reaching out to us. You can find the years-to-bear information in the Characteristics section, near the top of the page, underneath the description. Goji berries take 3-7 years to bear and Mulberry trees take 2-3 years.
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
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- Inaccurate
- TiffanyF Staff on Oct 21, 2020
Customer Reviews
4.0 / 5.0
23 Reviews
Vermilion Sunset Goji
The plant has very rampant growth habit, spreads widely via underground rhizomes and its production is not enough to justify all the space it takes up. I do not recommend this invasive plant.
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Prolific, low maintenance
Wrong plant if you are looking for delicious, but for great nutrition, filler in jams, smoothies, and such, hard to beat. Can be a little finicky in getting established, but once growing on their own, these are basically weeds, spreading like crazy, both from rhizomes/roots and seeds. Highly recommended to do a web search on pruning and maintenance to maintain control and for max fruit, after a couple of years to get established correctly, these plants will serve you well for years. One plant is plenty with a little TLC the first year, after a couple of years you can have more plants than you could handle from the spreading by seed and rhizomes from that one source plant..
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October 7, 2018
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Response from Stark Bro's
Thank you so much for your 5 star review. We really appreciate you taking the time out to share your experience with this goji berry plant. We count ourselves lucky for customer like you. We look forward to being your partner at growing your own legacy.
October 30, 2018
Tabitha R
Beautiful plant but hasn't set fruit yet.
I purchased in May of 2014. The plant grew well and survived the winter. 2015, the plant grew HUGE and was full of flowers, but no fruit set. I have it in strong morning sun - 5-6 hours. I am not the greatest at watering :( so maybe this is my problem. I will water more this spring. I'm hoping to have fruit this year and if not, maybe move to full sun location.
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nice plant
I potted it up into a one gallon pot for the winter. Now it is full of new growth and I hope to get some berries. Very healthy and the shipping packaging was great.
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It's growing!
Our little Goji Berry has doubled in size and seems very happy in our Southern California yard! No berries yet but I am sure we will see some this year!
It is a wild little guy and needs trellis or caging if you want it to stay in one place. I put four posts in the ground and wound twine around them. Works great! The shrub pokes out the sides and stays in place. ??
It is a wild little guy and needs trellis or caging if you want it to stay in one place. I put four posts in the ground and wound twine around them. Works great! The shrub pokes out the sides and stays in place. ??
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Goji serviced Alaskas winter
I bought my Goji last spring. The product arrived healthy and in great shape. Great service . After a hard winter north of Anchorage I was very happy to see fresh green leaves this spring. I am looking forward to buying more
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Waiting to see if Goji made it.
This Goji was shipped in pretty rough shape as did the honey berries but all came back nicely. Stark Tre-Pep was used to fertilize all. I feel that decent growth was made during the first season. Now it's May 12th and waiting to see if it survived the first zone 4b winter.
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CT goji berry
It is alive but barely, I do not think it appreciates my low ph clay soil. Full die off over winter then grew 6" from the roots in the spring. We shall see how it fares after another CT winter.
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Vermillion Sunset Goji comments
I planted it last spring and it grew lots of branches that were almost 3 feet long. I live in zone 4 in N/E Wisconsin, -- it made it through the winter in perfect condition. I am writing this May 19'th and so it has not started blooming yet, but it has new leaves all up and down the branches. Bill
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Too soon to tell. It appears to have been tipped over during transit and the roots
exposed. Am hoping. Weather is too cool to move out doors as yet.
exposed. Am hoping. Weather is too cool to move out doors as yet.
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