Phoenix Tears History

Plants identified as Phoenix Tears variety were discovered on a ranch near where the transcontinental railroad crossed the desert in western Utah. Read Phantom Voices for a complete account of their origin.

While deer hunting in the fall of 2004 Donald Daugs noticed some bright red berries on a friend’s ranch. He saw plants covered with what he recognized as wolfberries. The current ranchers did not recognize them and did not know where they came from. Just south of the ranch there is a place called Sinks of Dove Creek. This was one of the largest camps devoted to housing Chinese railroad workers when the transcontinental railroad was in its last stages
of construction some 160 years ago. With Wolfberries as one of their food choices, it is inferred that the West Desert plants were either planted by or dropped by the railroad workers.They have survived here for decades with no care and very little water.Rabbits, deer and cattle have dined on leaves and fruit.

Plants were moved to the site of the present Phoenix Tears Nursery in Cache Valley in 2004. Growth and production have been phenomenal. Much of the summer of 2009 was devoted to
experimenting with different modes of plant production. Plant growing techniques may be found in Growing Guide to Wolfberry Production.

Phoenix Tears Nursery, LLC was formed in October, 2009. Our goal is to provide affordable plants to both the backyard gardener and the nursery trade. All plants are Northern Utah grown at state inspected sites.

Nursery Stock in Field