Japanese Lanterns are also called: Chinese Lanterns, Ground Cherry, Husk Tomato, Winter
Cherry and Jerusalem Cherry. This perennial
comes from southeastern Europe and Japan. It gets it's name from the
distinctive color and shape of the papery husk, which resembles a Japanese Lantern.
The plant grows up to two feet tall, producing white, 5-petaled flowers
in mid summer. The flowers give way to a light green, lantern-shaped husk
with a berry inside. Dried, they are wonderful in arrangements. I currently have about a dozen stems in a glass vase and it's stunning. As it matures, the husk turns a bright orange-red color
and turns papery. As it decays, it becomes brown and lacey, showing nothing but the veins and the single seed inside. In Virginia, it can be rather invasive in the garden.
IMPORTANT: The unripe berries and the leaves of Japanese Lantern plants
are poisonous.
Tomatillos and Japanese Lanterns are both members of the deadly nightshade (Physalis) family, as are tomatoes.
I love these plants and now I think I need to plant some again. You did a great job on them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teri. It always amazes me how much more there is to a plant when you take the time to really look at it.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful shades (hues?) and a graceful diagonal! I doubt they'd like our cooler and – this summer – rainy summer. Worth a try to grow. Failing that, I'll just admire your painting!
ReplyDeleteWOW, Paula...these look real. We have the wild relative in our local park.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan and Kate!
ReplyDeleteThese look so pretty! I've never seen them in the wild.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elva. I don't know if these are considered wild or not. They've always grown in my mother's and my aunt's gardens, and through "pass alongs," are now in mine.
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