Physalis peruviana

Physalis peruviana, Goldenberry or Cape Gooseberry is well known and familiar as a fruit but not often grown, although it is very easy in cultivation. It's main requirements are full sun and a well-drained soil but as its soft velvety foliage does not tolerate frost it is usually grown in the UK as an annual. However, this often means that the plant is fruiting just as the winter weather makes it difficult for the fruit to ripen or for the plants themselves to survive the frosts. The best strategies are to grow them in large pots under glass, to move them under glass in the autumn or in milder locations to grow them in sheltered aspects up against a south-facing wall, ideally with some over-hanging protection. Old growth turns woody and does well in a frost-free environment over winter and gives you a head start for the next year's growth. If grown outdoors in a sheltered spot it needs to be cut back and heavily mulched.

The understated and rather delicate flowers are bell-shaped with five greenish petals splotched with reddish-brown beautifully-veined spots resembling inkblots. These are followed by a large green calyx which when ripe dries to a brownish papery husk that encloses the fruit.