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Physalis

Phonetic Spelling
fy-SAY-liss
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The Physalis or the tomatillo or ground cherry genus is comprised of perennial herbs in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family native to the U.S.A. and South America.  They 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 when they are ready, hence their common names, Chinese lantern and ground cherry.  

Very easy to grow, they quickly reach 3 feet tall with an often branched and spreading  habit.  Fruits are globose and mature to a yellow-orange color surrounded by a papery sac. 

Grow them like a tomato plant in the garden.  They can be started from seed or transplants, needing full sun and moist well drained soil.

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#edible plant#easy to grow#nectar plant#specialized bees#vegetable garden#cutting garden#vegetable#pollinator plant#dried arrangements#bee friendly#problem for horses#weed#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#edible plant#easy to grow#nectar plant#specialized bees#vegetable garden#cutting garden#vegetable#pollinator plant#dried arrangements#bee friendly#problem for horses#weed#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Physalis
    Family:
    Solanaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, NC, South America
    Distribution:
    Throughout
    Wildlife Value:
    Members of the genus Physalis support the following specialized bees: Colletes latitarsis, Colletes willistoni, and Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) pectinatum.
    Edibility:
    Ripe fruits edible and some used to make jelly, jams, preserves, sauces, or pies. HARVEST TIME: Only collect fruits.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Poisonous
    Vegetable
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Axillary, nodding, 5-parted, bell- or funnel-shaped, yellowish flowers that are good cut or dried.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, smooth margined or irregularly toothed diamond shaped leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Ringed hollow sometimes hairy
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    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.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Solanine and other solanidine alkaloids.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Stems