Physalis variovestita
Waterf.
Field Groundcherry
President and Fellows of Harvard College
President and Fellows of Harvard College
President and Fellows of Harvard College
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Each fruit is naturally enclosed in a papery calyx that protects it from pests and the elements — this calyx is toxic and must not be eaten.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
North America, USA,
How to Identify
Physalis variovestita is a frost-tender species with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, tolerating mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline pH levels. The plant requires full sun and prefers moist soil conditions.
How to Grow
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of this country. We are not sure if this species is an annual or perennial, but it should be possible to treat it as an annual, sowing the seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse and planting out after the last expected frosts. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade.
Propagation: Sow seed in March or April in a greenhouse, barely covering it. Germination is typically quick and prolific. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots of fairly rich soil and plant out after the last expected frosts, with cloche protection until established. Division in spring is very straightforward — larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer. For basal cuttings in early summer, harvest shoots with plenty of underground stem when they reach about 8–10cm above ground, pot into individual pots, and keep in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until rooting well before planting out in summer.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
None known Special Uses
Wikipedia
Physalis variovestita is a frost-tender species with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, tolerating mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline pH levels. The plant requires full sun and prefers moist soil conditions.
Notes
There are about 75-100 Physalis species.
References (1)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
