Physalis peruviana Little Lanterns - seeds

Physalis peruviana, also known as Golden Berry Little Lanterns or Peruvian Ground Cherry, is a frost-tender perennial plant, often grown as an annual. It produces an abundance of small decorative flowers, with pale yellow corollas, speckled with brown at the base followed by numerous small edible fruits known as "Inca Berry". This plant grows well in pots on the terrace or balcony and can be overwintered in a cold greenhouse or conservatory.

The Peruvian Ground Cherry (also known as Cape Gooseberry or Ground Cherry) is a perennial plant in the Solanaceae family, native to South America and endemic to Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This hairy plant is evergreen in warm climates. Its rapid growth allows it to be grown as an annual with a harvest of fruits in autumn. It forms a bush with upright and branching stems, reaching 90 cm (35in) in all directions. The bright green foliage is persistent in mild climates and composed of ovate to cordate leaves, with entire or slightly toothed edges, 6 to 15 cm (2 to 6in) long and 4 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) wide. It flowers from May-June, sometimes until autumn. The small 1.5 cm (1in) by 2 cm (1in) flowers are pale yellow and brown. They are followed by round berries, 1 to 1.5 cm (0 to 1in) in diameter, enclosed in a small 'pod' of fused leaves resembling a lantern. The berries are bright yellow-orange when ripe, with a sweet and sugary taste, ideal for pies and jams.