physalis alkekengi CHINESE LANTERN (15 seeds)

Alkekengi, also known as Chinese Lantern or Japanese Lantern is a perennial Asian plant native to China and Japan. It belongs to the genus Physalis and is part of the Solanaceae family. It is a hardy variety with creeping roots that reaches between 60 and 80 cm in height.

The leaves are deciduous, alternate, and petiolate. Oval in shape, they feature coarsely toothed edges. They are medium green, relatively simple in appearance, and measure between 5 and 10 centimeters long.

Its flowers, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, appear in the leaf axils at the beginning of summer. They are solitary, drooping, and carried by short stalks. Their corolla is bell-shaped or star-shaped with five lobes, and is creamy white or greenish in color. While they are discreet and small, it is their calyx that undergoes a spectacular transformation after fertilization.

The fruit is a fleshy, spherical, and smooth berry, about the size of a small cherry. It is enclosed in a bladder-like envelope. Upon maturity, this envelope turns bright orange-red and resembles a paper lantern. In the autumn, the calyx sometimes decomposes to leave only the network of veins (skeleton), revealing the berry inside—a true marvel of Mother Nature.

Chinese Lantern seeds from Physalis alkekengi are numerous and housed inside the pulp of the berry. They are small, flat, yellow, and oval-shaped with a slightly rough seed coat. Seed dispersal is facilitated by the falling of the lanterns or by birds.

- Uses:

It is an essential ornamental plant for the end of the season and an emblematic species of late summer. The brilliant orange-red calyxes in autumn offer a striking contrast with the foliage. These small lanterns bring strong visual value to gardens, flower beds, or borders.

The dried lanterns are widely used in dried bouquets and floral compositions. They can be preserved for years.

Easy to grow and exceptionally hardy, it can withstand frosts as low as -20°C. Furthermore, it spreads rapidly.

Although the perfectly ripe fruit is edible, all other parts of the plant are toxic. It is therefore primarily recommended as an ornamental plant.

- Germination and Sowing:

• The best time to sow Japanese lantern is from March to early April to allow for natural stratification.
• Place the seeds in a freezer for 3 to 6 weeks.
• Prepare a tray or pots with horticultural potting soil.
• Sprinkle the seeds on top without covering them.
• Gently water the tray using a hand sprayer.
• Place the culture in a greenhouse at a temperature near 30°C.
• Germination generally begins 2 to 4 weeks after planting.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

Alkekengi is undemanding and adapts to almost all soil types, though it prefers light, fresh, and calcareous soils. Soil rich in humus will encourage more generous fruiting.

- Exposure / Sunlight:

It enjoys full sun or partial shade. While it tolerates light shade, sufficient light is essential for the calyxes to take on their characteristic bright orange hue at the end of summer.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

It is an extremely hardy plant that withstands temperatures down to -20°C. The aerial parts disappear completely during the first frosts, but the rootstock survives in the ground without protection and restarts vigorously every spring. It is perfectly adapted to continental and mountain climates.

- Watering / Water Needs:

It is important to keep the soil fresh (moist), especially during the flowering and fruit formation periods. Once well-established, Alkekengi can tolerate temporary dry spells, but prolonged water lack can cause the foliage to wither and reduce the size of the lanterns.

- Multiplication:

The quickest and simplest method is the division of the rootstock or rhizomes in autumn or early spring. Sowing is also very easy to achieve.

- Pests / Diseases:

Its main enemies are aphids and slugs, which are particularly fond of the young spring shoots.