Physalis alkekengi v franchetii - Exotic - Strawberry Ground Cherry 20 Seed Pack - New

Physalis alkekengi v franchetii Seeds

Physalis alkekengi v 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 dried they keep their colour and last quite a long time, they are especially good to see on gloomy autumn days. The ripe fruit (not the lantern) is edible but doesn't taste very good; it is sour on account of having more vitamin C than lemons. Physalis is a genus of plants that are native to warm temperate and subtropical regions. They are herbaceous plants and are a relative of the common tomato. 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 v franchetii is quite different, a hardy plant but the fruits are sour and can be quite poisonous if eaten in quantity. Physalis alkekengi v franchetii is grown as an ornamental. It is hardy and has the largest lanterns of all.

On offer is a pack of 20 Seeds