Physalis

Unusual, are these flowers or fruits?

I do like these....

Beautiful my mum always wanted one of these Chinese Laterns she use to call them.

They've done well haven't they? Never seen so many on one stem!

Bathgate they are fruits - there is a berry inside the lantern. They are close relatives of the Physalis you can sometimes buy in the fruit sections of supermarkets but these are not edible.

Amy, I really like this. I'm told they seed easily, but can I get them to germinate? Can I heck!

So pretty, lots of tiny orange lanterns!

Thanks all , Paul Stera has answered your question beautifully thanks Stera , I did grow some of the eatable Physalis variety once they were reasonably successful ..
Waddy I have to confess at not being successful at growing them myself I tried 3 times to get them to germinate finally a friend gave me this one as a plant so don't worry it's not you !

Love these. We had some in our last garden and they just took off. They are so pretty.

I need to have another go , OBW on here gave me fresh seeds and all grew really easily ....

Look great Amy

Gg

Must look out for a plant at the GC centre, Amy and try again...

Thanks Linda ,Gg, Waddy , Easy for some ,not so easy for others I wonder if its the soil that makes the difference ? .

Probably Amy. It's something I don't always consider enough I'm afraid.

Oops Amy, I wasn't thinking - Paul's question was addressed to you wasn't it. Sorry!

I grew the edible ones in a small greenhouse and three filled one side of an 8/4.They came back every year and fruited prolifically - well worth the space they take up.

Don't the Chinese lanterns spread easily by runners? Seem remember somebody complaining abut them once.

Stera your welcome I'm always happy for someone to step in with an answer especially as its often something we don't know ourselves , that's interesting about growing the edible ones in a greenhouse I'm tempted to try that another year , I'll be on the lookout for runners from my Chinese lantern plant since you mention it ,I hope it does have some ....

It would be nice - they make good indoor decorations for autumn.
I grew my edible ones from fruit I got at the supermarket. They get very large and straggly so if you do it be prepared! I've seen seed sold for growing outdoors but when I tried the season wasn't nearly long enough . They flowered well but I got no fruit.

Have you seen what happens to them when they fade & wither? They become skeletonized with a red ball inside like a rattler. I guess it's the seed pod, not sure. They would look great in an arrangement.

Its always nice to try something new Stera especially if you can eat it , I tried growing Gogi berries once but nothing came of them .. I have Paul but shall look forward to having some of my own this year ...

Nice Amy ?. They seem to thrive on neglect ?