Pictures Of Chinese Lanterns

Chinese Lantern, 'Physalis alkekengi (franchetii)'




The Chinese lantern plant is a perennial herb, 20 - 60 cm heights. It has an upright, angular stalk that is a little hairy. The leaves, which also can be a little hairy, sit in pair on the stalk. They are egg - to heart moulded and a little bit sharpen in the end.
The flowers is bell shaped and the color is white or yellow white. They are placed one and one in the angles between the leaves and the stalk. The flowering season is in July - October.




Edible berries are borne inside fascinating orange chinese lantern-like calyces. The berries have a yellow-orange color and are enclosed by the sepals, which are scarlet red and looks like a paper lantern. They have a sour taste. The herbs contain bitter substances and an alkaloid. The berries is full of vitamin C, in fact more of it than lemons contain. Berries are eaten raw, or in preserves and pies. Recommended for fevers and gout.



Chinese lantern plant is grown for its inflated orange calyces. Cut the plants for drying when the leaves begin to fade. The best growing area has sun to partial shade and a well-drained soil. This aggressive plant spreads rapidly by underground stems. Flowering is poor in heavy soil or on crowded or shaded plants. Planting is done in fall or spring. Mature plants reach a height of 1 to 2 feet.

Propagation is by division or seed, both done in spring.

These perennials spread by means of underground stems. In gardens, they are sometimes grown as annuals. The Chinese Lantern Plant and its varieties are very pretty in the garden in late summer. The stems bearing the large orange "fruits" are valued for cutting and bringing indoors during the fall and winter months. They last a long time and look quite handsome in a vase. "Fruits" refers to the swollen calyces of the white flowers, which open early in the summer. If they are to be brought in to decorate the house, the stems bearing the pretty calyces should be cut as soon as they have developed their full coloring.