Chinese Lantern Physalis alkekengi 1000 Seeds

The Chinese Lantern is an herbaceous perennial that has colorful, orange fruits. It grows in an upright clump to 24” tall and as wide. Stems are clad with ovate-rhombic medium green leaves (to 3” long) with entire to undulate margins. Small, bell-shaped, axillary, white flowers in summer are insignificant. The showy part of this plant is the papery, globose, orange-red calyx (to 2” long), resembling the shape of a Chinese lantern, that forms around each ripening fruit in late summer. The bright calyces provide excellent and somewhat unique fall color. Fruit is technically edible but tasteless and rarely eaten. Fruiting stems are used in both fresh arrangements and dried arrangements. For dried arrangements, cut stems as soon as the calyces turn from green to orange-red, remove the leaves and then hang the stems upright in a dry location. Easily grown in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Plants may be grown as annuals by starting seed indoors about 6-8 weeks prior to last spring frost date. Hardy in zones 3-9. Hardy in zones 3-9.