Scientific Name: Physalis alkekengi
Common Name: Chinese lantern
Family Name: Solanaceae
Origin: Europe, South Asia / India
Hardiness Zone: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, Weed (horticultural)
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.3 - 0.6m (height x width)
Habit: Upright
Form: Irregular
Texture: Coarse
Landscape Uses: Fall interest, Medicinal plant
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media:
Leaves: Simple, Opposite, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Ovate, Entire
Flowers: White, Jun-Jul
Fruit: Berry (true), Edible, (Accessory tissue), Yellow, Red, Sep-Oct
Key ID Features:
Leaves ovate, up to 8cm long, margins entire, wavy; flowers nodding, creamy-yellow, about 2.5cm wide; fruit lantern-like, deep orange accessory tissue from calyx, about 5cm long, each enclosing a red berry.