Physalis alkekengi

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese lantern

Other common names

alkegengi, bladder cherry, bladder herb, Chinese lantern plant, devil's berry, devil's bladder, Japanese lantern, red nightshade, red winter cherry, strawberry tomato, strawberry-and-tomato, winter cherry

Synonyms

Alkekengi officinarum

Herbaceous Perennial

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A vigorous herbaceous perennial to 60cm tall, with ovate leaves. Nodding, creamy-yellow bell-shaped flowers 2cm wide appear in summer, followed by inflated, lantern-like deep orange calyces 5cm long, enclosing red berries

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenexcept ripe fruit. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Harmful if eatenexcept ripe fruit - For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Physalis can be annuals or rhizomatous perennials with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and small bell-shaped flowers in the leaf axils, followed by fleshy, sometimes edible, yellow, red or purple berries, enclosed in enlarged, often colourful, calyces
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate in containers in a cold frame in spring; propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillar damage

Diseases

Generally disease-free