General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 24 to 30 inches
Plant Spread: 24 to 36 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Will go dormant during droughts.
Fruit: Showy
Other: Very attractive, paper-like orange to reddish-orange calyces surrounding a single reddish seed.
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Winter
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: White
Other: Creamy-white, star shaped.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Provides winter interest
Groundcover
Dried Flower
Will Naturalize
Suitable as Annual
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Needs specific temperature: 65ºF - 72ºF
Days to germinate: 1 to 2 weeks
Depth to plant seed: Surface sow, lightly covering with potting medium.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Self
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Chinese Lantern
  • Japanese Lantern
  • Bladder Cherry
  • Winter Cherry
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Alkekengi officinarum var. franchetii
  • Synonym: Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii

Photo Gallery
Location: illustration from the 1898 catalog, John Lewis Childs, Floral Park, NY
Date: c. 1898
plant sold as The Chinese Lantern Plant (Physalis Franchetti.)

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy

credit: Bff
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AtaMaj On April 27, 2021 Obtained plant
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