Chinese-Lantern Plant (Japanese-Lantern, Strawberry Tomato, Winter Cherry)
Physalis alkekengi. SOLANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Chinese-Lantern Plant
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Chinese-lantern plant in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Chinese-lantern plant
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Chinese-lantern plant
- Season of bloom and planting time for Chinese-lantern plant
- When, how deep, and where to plant Chinese-lantern plant
- How to plant Chinese-lantern plant
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of Chinese-lantern plant
- Landscape and container uses of Chinese-lantern plant
- Comments about Chinese-lantern plant and its features
Growing Chinese-Lantern Plant
Many cultivars of short-lived, erect, open, rhizomatous perennial herbs, to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall and wide, with shiny, green, oval, 3-lobed, pointed leaves, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) long.
See also Chinese Lantern, Abutilon hybridum, an unrelated shrub species with similar-shaped flowers.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Tiny, white, star-shaped flowers, in summer, form showy, nodding, pink, red, lantern-shaped, papery seed husks, to 2 in. (50 mm) long, containing edible, round, berrylike fruit in autumn. Grown primarily as an ornamental.
Best Climates
Hardy. Self-seeding. Zones 2–10. Best in cold-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist to damp, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize quarterly. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, containers, edgings, paths in cottage, formal, shade, woodland gardens. Good for cutting, drying, making preserves. Invasive. Pest and disease resistant.