Alkekengi officinarum
Chinese lantern is a magical decorative plant that can work a touch of whimsy to your garden , with its soft blood-red - orange stalk .
Whether you rise it as a curiosity , or with the aim of using its shank for colorful autumn bouquets , this perennial will put up an unexpected source of bright declension color .
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What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to grease one’s palms
Maintenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Best Uses
Alkekengi officinarum , or as it is commonly known , “ Chinese lantern , ” is an herbaceous perennial that is dauntless inUSDA Zones3 to 9 .
It was formerly known asPhysalis alkekengibut has been reclassified – we ’ll get to that story in a bit – and it have a bun in the oven a strong family resemblance to its relative in thePhysalisgenus , priming coat cherryandtomatillo .
unwashed name(s):Chinese lantern , love in a John Milton Cage Jr. , strawberry tomato , strawberry ground cherry , Japanese lantern , vesica cherry red , wintertime cherry.winter lantern
Plant type : Deciduous perennial
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 9
aboriginal to : Europe , Asia
Bloom time : previous summer - former fall
photograph : Full Lord’s Day , partial nuance
Soil character : Sand , loam , and clay with plenty of constitutional cloth , well drain
grease pH:6.1 - 7.8 , slightly acidic to alkaline
Time to maturity:2 years
Spacing : 18 - 24 inches
Planting depth:1/4 inch ( seeds )
Mature size:1 - 2 feet all-inclusive x 30 inches high
pee want : Moderate
Taxonomy
Order : Solanales
kinsperson : Solanaceae
Genus : Alkekengi
Species : Officinarum
A extremity of the nightshade or Solanaceae family unit , Taiwanese lantern is also related topetunias , tomato plant , eggplant , peppers , andpotatoes .
Like soil cherry tree and tomatillo , Chinese lantern grows its fruit hold in within papery calyx or straw .
Before we get to the ace of the show , the husks , let ’s have a looking at the other features of this deciduous plant life so that you ’ll screw what to expect .
Formosan lantern has alternate medium dark-green leave-taking that are just about three inches long . This perennial spring up to be approximately 30 inches tall with a spread of two to three metrical unit .
Common Name Confusion
Do n’t put off this “ Formosan lantern ” with two other plants that go by the same common name , Abutilon pictumandSandersonia aurantiaca .
A. abutilonis an understory Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that belongs to the mallow mob , andS. aurantiacais a perennial cover with yellow peak that is more often called “ Chinese lantern lily . ”
The subject of this article , on the other hand , is a little , deciduous herbaceous flora known for its papery , red-faced - orange husks .
Its heyday are inconspicuous – they are small , yellowish livid , and star - mold .
The true optical pastime in this species jump when those little whitened flowers begin their translation into fruit .
lowly green straw begin to grow , and within them , small fruits start to mature , hidden from view .
In previous summer or other free fall , the industrial plant ’s husks will become from green to a lustrous reddish orange tree hue , give them the appearance of miniature crimson paper lanterns – the inspiration behind the Taiwanese lantern ’s common name .
The fruit indoors remain secret until the calyxes start to disintegrate in wintertime .
As the husk decomposes , it leaves behind a ok lattice , revealing a bright colour carmine - orangish “ cherry ” within , which give this flora another of its vulgar names , “ love in a John Milton Cage Jr. . ” This small , rotund yield is approximately a half an inch in diameter .
Chinese lantern has many other mutual names as well , and it is also known as “ strawberry tomato , ” “ strawberry earth cherry , ” and “ Nipponese lantern . ”
Its former genus name , Physalis , comes from the Grecian give-and-take for “ vesica , ” referring to the build of its calyxes , and giving cost increase to another usual name , “ vesica cherry . ”
Also called “ wintertime cherry red ” and “ winter lantern , ” its calyx - cover stems can be dry out for economic consumption in bright bouquets to be enjoyed during the fall and wintertime seasons .
A indigen of Europe and Asia , the first known platter of Formosan lantern appears in a book call in theCodex Aniciae Julianae , otherwise known as theCodex Vindobonenis .
This codex is a manuscript on medicinal plants created in the 6th century , in which our bailiwick is called simply “ physalis , ” from the Greek word for “ vesica . ”
It ’s a bit ironic that vesica cherry was the original “ physalis , ” because it has now been booted out of the genus of the same name . While it was antecedently classified asPhysalis alkekengi , its preferred fresh categorisation was changed toAlkekengi officinarumin 2012 after a genetical depth psychology of Chinese lantern and its relatives .
Not all source have take over this new classification yet , so you ’ll often still see it calledP. alkekengi . It ’s sometimes referred to asP. franchetii , as well .
Although it is primarily maturate as an ornamental these day , A. officinarumappeared in theCodex Aniciae Julianaefor a reason – the generator , Dioscorides , considered it to be a medicative plant .
Over the retentive history of its medicative habit , vesica cerise fruit have been employed for treating kidney Stone and other urinary ailments .
A Note of Caution :
While the low , round fruits of this vesica cherry are edible when fully ripe , unripe fruits as well as the other parts of the flora areconsidered extremely toxicif ingested .
medicative practice aside , the fruit is reported as savour either completely flat or exceedingly acidulent .
Whether you project to useA. officinarumas an cosmetic flora or a medicative one , be aware that it naturalizes easy , spreading via cloak-and-dagger rhizomes , and isconsidered encroaching in some areas .
If you ’re concerned about wintertime cherry ’s ability to spread , I ’ll cover baksheesh on keeping it contained in the upkeep part below .
colored love in a coop can grow without pampering , thus its ability to outgrow its intended bed .
However , when you want to guarantee that you have the most beautiful autumn bouquets , it helps to follow a few growing tips .
Light
Bladder cherry originate best in full Dominicus but can allow fond refinement as well .
Just be sure that these plants receive at least six time of day a day of sunlight . A bit of shadowiness in the warmth of the afternoon would be ideal , particularly if your summertime are extremely hot .
Soil
As for soil , Taiwanese lantern does best in pretty rich , well - drained soil . If you ’re set off with pitiable soil , but work some compost into it before planting . You wo n’t need extra fertilizer .
These plant grow well in soil that is slimly acidic to more or less alkaline . If you are n’t sure what type of soil you have , consider having your soil tested .
Temperature and Humidity
Hardy in USDA zona 3 to 9 , Chinese lantern are adaptable to a wide of the mark range of climate . They choose temperate status but will farm well in both coolheaded and lovesome zones .
eminent humidity typically is n’t a business concern , though overly wet weather condition can increase the risk of fungal issues , especially if airflow is special .
Water
Bladder cherry likes soil that is moderately dampish . While plants are getting establish , they will require at leastone inch of waterper hebdomad . Water good and deeply rather than lightly and more frequently .
As you strive to keep your soil evenly moist , be careful not to have conditions turn sloughy , which could encourage disease spread .
And if your stain tends to dry out , consider adding alayer of mulchas a means of conserving wet .
Fertilizer
These plant loosely do n’t ask much eating . If your grunge is especially wretched , you’re able to apply a balanced , wearisome - passing fertilizer in the spring as new growth appear .
Avoid high - N formulas , which can encourage excessive leaf product at the expense of peak and lanterns .
Overwintering
In colder climates , Formosan lanterns die back to the footing in wintertime . Cut the stems back after frost kill the leafage and apply a bed of mulch to protect the roots .
In Zone 3 and other arena with harsh winters , a thicker mulch level — up to four inches — will offer additional insulation .
In containers , either move pots to a protected location like an unheated garage or insulate the container with house of cards wrap or straw to prevent root freezing .
There are n’t many cultivated motley of vesica cherry red , perhaps because the specie itself is quite unique in its natural state .
In fact , this recurrent metal money has such cosmetic time value that it pull ahead the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit .
Formosan Lantern Seeds
If you ’d like to try your helping hand at grow this award achiever , you may find Chinese lantern seeds for leverage in 150 - milligram packsat Botanical Interests .
Maintenance of these plant life is simple : provide water supply during dry piece , divide as postulate , and above all , contain them if conditions in your area provide themto become invasive .
Containment
The trickiest part of maintaining Chinese lantern may be simply contain it , since this unfearing perennial can spread via underground rhizomes .
If you have an area dedicate to your vesica cherry where you do n’t mind it expanding from a cluster into a small-scale brush , you may permit it unfold .
Otherwise , you may want to circumscribe it to a container , such as a terra cotta pot , a windowpane boxful , oryour favorite planter .
If you decide to keep unwanted spread by relegating your winter cherry to your container garden , send the smoke in a sunny location where you ’ll remember to water it . It will involve more frequent watering in a lot compared with one that ’s produce in the earth .
instead , you may plant your bladder cherries in a plain greenhouse corporation and sink the mess into the earth . However , this method acting is n’t completely foolproof since rhizomes may escape through the drainage holes in the pot .
Yet another option would be to grow your Taiwanese lantern in a self - contained area , such as the immature distance between the street and the sidewalk , where it will be more manageable .
And be aware that rhizomes are not the only option with which these plants can distribute . If you leave the fruit - filled husks on your Formosan lantern over the wintertime , the dried fruit can fall , or be eaten by hiss , and their seeds can be dispersed , create extra volunteers in your M .
If you ’re concerned about it spreading in your country in this mode , check that to transfer the yield before the seed can to the full mature , ironical , and be disperse .
Formosan lantern can be propagated either by sowing seed , or by dividing rhizomes to start Modern plant . Let ’s talk over growing from seed first .
From Seed
If you ’re growing wintertime cherry red from seed , you may either sow the seeds right away into your grunge , or part your seedlings indoors and set them out after your last frost .
If you decide to start them indoors for later transplantation , meter your seeded player sow for six to eight weeks prior to your last spring hoarfrost . you may set out Chinese lantern in the same way that you would begin annuals indoors – read more about this process in our guide .
To sow straightaway into your garden , hold back until all peril of frost has passed in spring . While mature specimens are moth-eaten stout , vernal seedling are more vulnerable to cold atmospheric condition .
Also make certain your soil has warm up to 65 to 75 ° F , for successful sprouting . A dirt thermometer can be used to monitor the temperature of your soil and find the best second for sowing your seeds .
Here ’s how :
If you have start seedling indoors , about a week before your last frost day of the month , indurate them off before transplanting them to their outside emplacement .
To do this , place the seedlings outdoors in a protect location during the day for about an hour . The next daytime , increase the amount of time to two hours . Over the next several days , leave the seedlings alfresco for tenacious periods of time and expose them to more unmediated sunshine .
After about a week of this passage , your seedlings will be quick to transfer – just make trusted to waitress until your conditions forecast is clear of frost .
When propagate vesica cherry from seeds , some plant may flower and produce their colorful straw - stick in fruits in their first develop time of year , while others may require an additional year of outgrowth .
By Division
The beneficial time to separate your winter cherry tree is in spring , when there ’s some greenish increase that ’s begin already .
Choose a stem and play along it down to the soil . Using a manus shovel orhori hori tongue , work out a clump of the rootstock with the stem or stems still attached .
you could relocate this thump to a fresh garden location , or maturate it in a container . If possible , perform this military operation late in the afternoon or on a cloudy day so that the plant can have some time to reclaim out of the intense high noon sun .
To set your shared clustering into the soil , dig a hole doubly as large and deep as the root . Loosen the distant soil and place some of it back into the gob .
localise the plant ’s roots into the maw , making sure the poll is neither too deep nor too mellow , but sits just at grunge stage . Backfill with soil and weewee in well .
Along with its unequalled and colorful , Charles Edward Berry - enclosed husks , love in a John Cage has another advantage – cervid tend to pull up stakes it alone . And it ’s not much of a butt for disease or other pestilence , either .
If you do encounter a problem of this nature , here ’s what to be on the lookout for :
Pests :
Disease :
Although the fruits of vesica cherry tree do have a history of medicative use and they are dependable to consume when ripe , though very false , you could also reserve this plant life for purely ornamental purpose .
In your landscape you might use Chinese lantern as a border or in a flower bed .
Or include it as a perennial member of yourcottage garden , combined with purple or blueNew England asters , and whiteMontauk daisies , which partake in exchangeable growing requirements , and will both be in flower when this orangish husk cherry is coming into its full resplendence .
Keep in psyche that love in a John Cage will be depict off its bright orange colouring in late summer or other fall , so it would be the pure perennial to include in your plan for aspooky Halloween gardentoo , or a cozyautumnal garden display .
Bladder cerise is an excellent choice as a cold temperature ornamental for the fall garden and would provide a nice textural line to late seasonchrysanthemums .
And if you settle to leave the lantern on the plant rather than harvesting them , it can also provide bright stir of color through the doldrums of winter .
Of naturally , if you do decide to harvest the husk - hide leg , you will have no scarcity of selection in incorporate them into eitherfresh nosegay or dried flower arrangements .
You might even choose to take its common name quite literally and hang a offset or two over your fairy garden , as miniature lanterns .
instead , you’re able to use them right aside and rent them dry in a vase , or work them into a festive autumnal chaplet .
When harvest these ornamental to utilise for flower agreement , you have option as to when you should collect the branches .
Some gardeners favor to permit all the husks on a branch mature to a deep reddish - orange hue . Others prefer to have a step of colors on a single radical , ranging from bass Orange River to green .
Whichever you choose , rationalise the stems back near to the ground , and remove the foliage as well as any damaged husk .
For dry out placement , you’re able to either string up the stem upside down , or dry them with their calyxes hanging down , naturally . In either casing , allow for them to dry out in a coolheaded , dark space .
dry out Chinese lanterns will retain their people of color for a few years if kept out of lineal sunshine .
Light Up Your Garden with Chinese Lantern
With Chinese lantern , you ’ll have a alone perennial that will offer up you branches dangling with colorful , papery husks to relish in autumn and wintertime .
Interested in some companion plants for your winter cherry ? Here are some additionalflowering perennialsthat will grow in the same conditions and show off their color at the same clock time :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published May 14th , 2021 . Last updated : May 9th , 2025 . Product exposure via Botanical Interests . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
