Chinese Lantern Plant, Strawberry Ground Cherry 'Gigantea'

Physalisalkekengi

Family
Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Physalis (fy-SAL-is)
Species
alkekengi (al-KEK-en-jee)
Synonym
Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii
Physalis franchetii
Physalis gigantea
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 2a: to -45.5 °C (-50 °F)
USDA Zone 2b: to -42.7 °C (-45 °F)
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Ferment seeds before storing
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Delta, Colorado

Butler, Pennsylvania

New Galilee, Pennsylvania

East Port Orchard, Washington

Parkwood, Washington

Port Orchard, Washington

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Gardener's Notes:

0
positive
1
neutral
2
negatives
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C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2014 | negative

This is a garden thug here in Boston MA Z6a. It spreads aggressively by a deep rhizome I've never been able to dig out. It can also self-...Read More

L
L
Hanceville, AL (Zone 7a) | February 2011 | negative

We have something growing here which looks like a Chinese Lantern and is called hog tomato. It grows in a husk and turns red or orange w...Read More

C
| February 2011 | neutral

Gday Folks, My name is Cooch & I live in Queensland in Australia. My queries about Physalis alkekengi are it's native origins, it's habit...Read More

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