A long season
Flowering progresses towards the tips from May to September and harvest can continue into November.
Lycium barbarum Princess Tao® ‘FPW03’ 13cm
Normal price
€12,00
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Lycium barbarum Princess Tao® ‘FPW03’
Plant a goji and leave the vitamin pills behind 💊
- Sweet glossy red berries
- Flowers May–September
- Sun · wall or trellis
- Mature form 2–3m
Lycium barbarum Princess Tao® ‘FPW03’ has an unusually long seasonal rhythm: pale-violet flowers arrive in waves from May, while glossy red berries can be picked from summer into late autumn. Fruit is larger and sweeter than on many conventional goji types, adding vivid colour over many months. Its naturally layered flexible growth creates an impressive fruiting curtain and a distinctive vertical presence in the garden.
Against a bright wall or trellis, it combines elegant French selection, a long flowering season and easy harvesting in a beautifully organised vertical form.
What makes it special
‘FPW03’ stands out for sweet fruit, a long season and easy training on a support.
Larger sweet berries
The glossy red berries are larger than those of many common goji types and can be eaten fresh or dried when ripe.
Mildew resistance
‘FPW03’ has good powdery-mildew resistance, without removing the need for air and correct watering.
Why you will love it: It extends picking over many months and turns a simple trellis into a layered fruiting wall.
In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsSun or very bright partial shade, a trellis/wall and 2–3m for flexible stems.
Ideal position
Plant it against a south- or west-facing wall or on a strong trellis. Allow 2–3m in height and 2–2.5m in spread, tying the layered stems at different levels.
Compatible combinations
Low flowering clumps keep the base open and echo the purple flowers without tangling into the trellis.
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ — Dark upright stems add structure in front of the trellis and thrive in sun.
- Gaura lindheimeri — Airy white-pink flowers move between the lower tiers without tangling in the stems.
- Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’ — Autumn pink flower heads pair beautifully with the long season of red berries.
Care at a glance
Light
Sun for denser flowering and ripening.
Water
Water deeply when the surface dries; no waterlogging.
Climate & hardiness
Hardy to about −30°C; protect fresh growth from late frost.
Safety
Eat only fully ripe, thoroughly washed berries.
Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.
Soil & drainage
Use light to medium, free-draining soil, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline. Prolonged root-zone wetness is more troublesome than moderate dryness.
Watering
Water deeply during establishment and when the surface dries during flowering and fruit development. Do not follow a rigid calendar.
Support
The flexible shoots need stakes, a wall or trellis. Tie them loosely at different heights so they do not trail on the ground.
Feeding
A moderate application of mature compost in spring is usually sufficient. Excess nitrogen produces long soft shoots and a less controlled crown.
Base control
Keep the crown clear, remove unwanted suckers low and check that ties do not cut into flexible stems.
Prevention
Maintain light and air between stems, collect fallen fruit and water the soil rather than repeatedly wetting foliage late in the day.
From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.
Pollination
‘Princess Tao’ is self-fertile and one plant can crop. Insect activity during the long flowering season helps fruit set.
When it ripens
Fruit ripens in succession from July to November, depending on sunshine and climate.
How to harvest
Pick only glossy evenly red berries that detach easily. Use a shallow picking tray so they are not crushed.
Protection
Fix taut netting in front of the trellis and check it every day. Avoid loose netting that can tangle in shoots or trap birds.
After planting: tie the main stems loosely to the trellis and let the roots strengthen with even watering.
Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate winter, before new growth begins
When to prune
Late winter, before new growth begins
In late winter shorten the old main shoots to about 20cm above the short trunk. New fruiting growth will start from these low points.
01
Build
Young plant
Action: Keep the short trunk and 3–5 main shoots. Tie flexible growth to the trellis instead of cutting it all back.
Retain: Retain enough foliage and length for good establishment and a fan shape.
02
Train
Plant on its support
Action: In late winter shorten the old main shoots to about 20cm above the trunk and remove very thin growth crowding the centre.
Retain: Keep healthy low points that will produce new fruiting growth.
03
Renew
Mature fruiting wall
Action: Renew a few old shoots each year and tie the new growth as a fan at different heights.
Retain: Keep the short trunk open, retain 3–5 strong bases and plenty of new growth.
New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point
Clean tools
Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.
During growth
Guide and tie rather than repeatedly shortening tips where flowers and fruit progress.
Do not do this: Do not shear the whole trellis horizontally in summer; flowering progresses towards the tips and the next fruit will be removed with them.
Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.
Short trunk
The young plant keeps a few main shoots that spread over the support.
Fan-shaped shoots
Flexible shoots are tied at different heights while flowers continue towards the tips.
Long fruiting curtain
The mature plant fills the support with tied new branches and fruit that is easy to pick from summer into autumn.
Mature habit & dimensions
Mature form in 3–5 yearsHeight 2–3mSpread 2–2.5mFlexible shrub trained over a support
Princess Tao forms a short trunk and long flexible shoots that spread like a fan over a trellis.
Form through the seasons
May–September flowers · July–November fruitFrench selectionLong harvestSupport
May–summerPale-violet flowers progress in waves along the upper halves of the stems.
Summer–autumnLarge glossy red berries hang successively along the layered arches.
After leaf fall, the short trunk, low bases and winter renewal points are clearly visible.
What to expect after planting: The young plant keeps a few main shoots that spread over the support.
History & originCultivar originThe French selection ‘FPW03’ was created for sweeter fruit, a long harvest season and better garden performance.
‘FPW03’ was created in France by FPW Développement through a goji improvement programme. The aim was clear: larger berries with a sweet flavour and none of the strong astringency of many older types, an extended harvest and a plant better suited to European growing conditions.
From the programme, a selection was retained with layered, relatively low growth, modest water needs and good resistance to powdery mildew. It was tested and propagated as a stable clone, maintaining its harvest from July into autumn and the fruit qualities for which it had been selected.
SAPHO presented ‘FPW03’ at Plantarium in 2017 under the trade name Princess Tao®. European registration followed with plant variety right number 57595. A focused French breeding effort therefore moved from selection and trials into the European market as a clearly identified cultivar.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour
Successive flowering
Flowers do not open together; they progress towards the tips, explaining why flowers, green fruit and ripe berries can coexist.
Low renewal
Winter pruning of old main shoots encourages strong new fruiting growth close to the trunk.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.
01Does it need another plant?
No. It is self-fertile and can crop on its own.
02When are the berries picked?
Successively from July to November, depending on sun and climate.
03How large does it become?
It reaches about 2–3m in height and 2–2.5m in spread when properly supported.
04Does it need support?
Yes. Its naturally layered growth needs a trellis, wall or stakes.
05How is it pruned?
In late winter shorten old main shoots to about 20cm above the short trunk to encourage new growth.
06Does it resist powdery mildew?
Yes, it shows good natural resistance. Light, air and watering at the root help keep it healthy.
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