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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Physalis pubescens is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
P. barbardense. P. florida.
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[62, 85, 132, 183]. A delicious bitter sweet flavour. The fruit falls from the plant before it is fully ripe and should be left for a week or two until the husk has dried and the fruit has turned a golden-yellow[207]. Delightful when fully ripe[102]. When dried in sugar, the fruit is excellent in fruit cakes, some cooks preferring them to raisins or figs[183]. Yields up to 0.5 kilo per plant[170]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten. The fruit will store for several weeks if left in the calyx[207]. The fruit is a berry about 15mm in diameter[200].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antipyretic Depurative Diuretic Pectoral Vermifuge Vitamin C
The whole plant is antipyretic, depurative, diuretic, pectoral, vermifuge[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of abscesses, coughs, fevers, sore throat etc[147, 218].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[200]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in the Ukraine[50]. There are some named varieties[200]. 'Cossack Pineapple' has a small pineapple-flavoured fruit[200]. 'Goldie' has medium-sized fruits that are borne prolifically on a well-branched plant[200].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[170].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Ground Cherry, Capulin, Ground cherry, Husk-tomato, balãozinho, camapú, husk tomato, umuhuhu,
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas (east), Missouri, Nebraska (southeast), Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas (east)), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Hispaniola, Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua), Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, United States (Puerto Rico), Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia (Antioquia, Chocó), Ecuador, Peru, Argentina (Entre Ríos, Jujuy), Paraguay
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Physalis acutifolia | Sharp-Leaf Ground Cherry | Annual | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Physalis alkekengi | Winter Cherry, Strawberry groundcherry,Ground Cherry, Chinese Lantern | Perennial | 0.3 |
6-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Physalis alkekengi franchetii | Winter Cherry | Perennial | 0.5 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Physalis angulata | Cutleaf Ground Cherry | Annual | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Physalis angustifolia | Coastal groundcherry | Perennial | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis arenicola | Cypresshead groundcherry | Perennial | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis carpenteri | Carpenter's groundcherry | Annual | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis caudella | Southwestern groundcherry | Perennial | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis crassifolia | Yellow nightshade groundcherry | Perennial | 0.3 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis foetens | | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis foetens neomexicana | | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis greenei | | Annual | 0.3 |
-
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis hederaefolia cordifolia | Ground Cherry | Perennial | 0.3 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis heterophylla | Clammy Ground Cherry, Rowell's groundcherry | Perennial | 0.9 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Physalis ixocarpa | Tomatillo | Annual | 1.2 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | DM | 4 | 0 | |
| Physalis lanceolata | Ground Cherry, Sword groundcherry | Perennial | 0.4 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | |
| Physalis latiphysa | Broadleaf groundcherry | | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis macrophysa | Bladder Ground Cherry, Longleaf groundcherry | Perennial | 1.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis minima | Sunberry, Pygmy groundcherry | Annual | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | |
| Physalis missouriensis | Missouri groundcherry | Annual | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis obscura | | Annual | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis peruviana | Goldenberry, Peruvian groundcherry | Perennial | 1.2 |
10-12
| | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Physalis philadelphica | Wild Tomatillo, Mexican groundcherry | Annual | 0.6 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | |
| Physalis pruinosa | Strawberry Tomato | Annual | 0.6 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | |
| Physalis pumila | Prairie Ground Cherry, Dwarf groundcherry | Perennial | 0.3 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis subglabrata | Longleaf groundcherry | Perennial | 1.5 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis variovestita | Field groundcherry | | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Physalis virginiana | Virginia Ground Cherry | Perennial | 0.6 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Physalis virginiana sonorae | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
170
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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