The Physalis or the tomatillo or ground cherry genus is comprised of 94 species of perennial herbs in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family native to America. The species in the genus can be found growing as weeds in disturbed areas, forest or thin woodlands, and sandy, open areas. They are sometimes cultivated in home vegetable gardens but a word of caution: the unripe fruits as well as other parts of the plants are poisonous and should not be consumed. The ripe fruits are edible and will fall to the ground in their papery husks that resemble tiny lanterns, hence the common names, Chinese lantern and ground cherry. The genus name comes from the Greek physa meaning a bladder for the inflated calyx. You should grow them in the garden as you would a tomato plant. You start them from seed or as transplants. They do best in full sun with moist, well drained soil. They quickly reach 3 feet tall with a branched and spreading habit. The fruits are globe shaped and mature to a yellow-orange color surrounded by a papery sac. The fruit of many species is similar to a firm tomato in texture, and like a sweet grape in flavor. These plants spread by rhizomes and can spread aggressively or self-seed in the garden. Propagate by seed or by division. Plants may be grown as annuals by starting seed indoors about 6-8 weeks prior to last spring frost date. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Species are susceptible to most of the common diseases and pests of tomatoes.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire; Lobed
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, smooth margined or irregularly toothed diamond shaped leaves
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried
Flower shape
Bell; Funnel
Flower detail
Axillary, nodding, 5-parted, bell- or funnel-shaped, yellowish flowers that are good cut or dried.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Orange; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit detail
A globose green berry that typically matures to a yellow or orange color sometimes purple surrounded by a five sized veined papery sac. Mature fruits are edible. Do not consume immature fruits.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Ringed hollow sometimes hairy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
North and South America, India, Southern China
Distribution
Worldwide
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Physalis support the following specialized bees: Colletes latitarsis, Colletes willistoni, and Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) pectinatum.
Attracts
Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Ripe fruits edible and some used to make jelly, jams, preserves, sauces, or pies. HARVEST TIME: Only collect fruits.
All parts are toxic except the ripe fruits. Headache, stomach pain, lowered temperature, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory and respiratory depression, loss of sensation; may be fatal.
Toxic principle
Solanine and other solanidine alkaloids.
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Stems