Practical
Plants

Physalis pubescens

Ground Cherry

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.45 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many of the members have poisonous leaves and stems, though the full ripe fruits are usually edible[6][13].

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[12][14][2][5]. A delicious bitter sweet flavour. The fruit falls from the plant before it is fully ripe and should be left for a week or two until the husk has dried and the fruit has turned a golden-yellow[8]. Delightful when fully ripe[1]. When dried in sugar, the fruit is excellent in fruit cakes, some cooks preferring them to raisins or figs[5]. Yields up to 0.5 kilo per plant[4]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten. The fruit will store for several weeks if left in the calyx[8]. The fruit is a berry about 15mm in diameter[7].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The whole plant is antipyretic, depurative, diuretic, pectoral, vermifuge[3]. A decoction is used in the treatment of abscesses, coughs, fevers, sore throat etc[3][9].

Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Vermifuge

Environment

Range
N. America - Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio. Indiana and southwards.
Habitat
Damp to dry open woods, sand dunes and disturbed soil[10]
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[4].

Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[7]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in the Ukraine[11]. There are some named varieties[7]. 'Cossack Pineapple' has a small pineapple-flavoured fruit[7]. 'Goldie' has medium-sized fruits that are borne prolifically on a well-branched plant[7].

References

  1. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

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  2. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

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  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  4. Dremann. C. G. Ground Cherries, Husk Tomatoes and Tomatilloes. Redwood City Seed Co 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-933421-03-6

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

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  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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  11. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  12. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  14. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

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