Buy Chinese lantern Physalis alkekengi var. 'franchetii': Delivery by Waitrose Garden

Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii

Chinese lantern

Chinese lantern

Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: any well-drained soil
Rate of growth: fast-growing
Flowering period: July to August
Hardiness: fully hardy

Tiny, creamy-white flowers from July to August followed by bright orange-scarlet berries enclosed by papery, red lanterns. Chinese lanterns are perfect for providing autumn interest in well-drained areas of the garden. The papery lanterns make wonderful dried flower arrangements. To prevent them from becoming invasive try cutting a slit trench around the crown of the plant with a spade each autumn.
Garden care: To check the spread of underground stems cut the area round the crown of the plant with a spade each autumn. Lift and divide congested colonies in spring.