10 Chinese Lantern, Strawberry Ground Cherry Seeds - Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii - Perennial

Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii Seeds

Common Names: Chinese Lantern, Strawberry Ground Cherry, Love in a cage, Japanese lantern, Winter cherry, Hozuki

Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii is a highly attractive and much loved plant with a mound forming habit and mid green coloured leaves. Each year it makes a good show producing creamy-white star shaped flowers, which are followed by bright orange-red, paper-like lanterns in autumn. For winter bouquets, cut the stems in autumn just as the lanterns turn colour, remove the leaves and hang them, right side up, to dry in a shady, airy place. They can be arranged in vases with other flowers such as honesty to make wonderful dried flower arrangements, threaded on string to make decorations or mobiles or just placed in a bowl. Once they are dried they keep their colour and last for quite a long time. They are especially good to see on gloomy autumn days. The plant wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (the ‘calyx’) to protect it from pests and the elements. Most varieties are prized for their edible fruits which grow within the lanterns but are tender and will die at the first frosts. Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii is quite different, a hardy plant with sour fruit that can be poisonous if eaten in large quantities. Franchetti is grown as an ornamental. It is hardy and has the largest lanterns of all.