Chinese Lanterns – Physalis Alkekengi

Chinese lantern is a hardy perennial that provides colorful fall interest and can be grown in the ground or in containers. It is a clump-forming plant with 3-inch long medium green leaves. Small white bell-shaped flowers appear in summer, but they are insignificant. The real appeal lies in the signature lanterns, which are seed pods that start out green and mature to a bright pumpkin-orange at the end of the growing season in early fall. The 2-inch-wide papery pod, called a calyx, serves as a protective cover over the flower and fruit.