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Physalis nicandroides

Physalis nicandroides
Photo: Gaiacoyote, CC0

Physalis nicandroides is a branched annual herb from Mexico and Central America, one of the husk tomato or tomatillo relatives, grown for its lantern-like fruit. It is a seasonal plant that needs warm, frost-free conditions and a long growing season.

Family
Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Grows as
Annual
Light
Full sun
Water
Water regularly during growth and let the top of the soil dry slightly between waterings.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile garden soil or a loamy potting mix.
Temperature
18-30 °C; protect below 10 °C
How easy
Easy
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Mexico to Nicaragua
Climate
seasonally dry tropical

About

Physalis nicandroides, one of numerous species generally referred to as husk tomatoes, ground tomatoes, or tomatillos, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Solanaceae.

Safety

In species of Physalis the most frequently occurring chemical constituents are naturally occurring steroids known as withanolides. These occur as secondary metabolites. In Physalis nicandroides, other constituents reported are sucrose esters and labdane diterpenoid.

Where it grows

The iNaturalist map registering observations of Physalis nicandroides indicates that the species occurs in most of Mexico south through Central America into most of Costa Rica. It has been introduced into Paraguay.

Other Physalis plants

Cutleaf groundcherry · Southwestern groundcherry · Cotztomatl · Strawberry-tomato · Ivyleaf groundcherry · Longleaf groundcherry · Peruvian groundcherry · Tomatillo · Husk Tomato · Husk tomato · Starhair groundcherry · Groundcherry

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Physalis nicandroides by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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