CHINESE LANTERN PLANT FULL

Dwarf varieties are suitable for growing in pots.Abutilon ‘Double Pink’ has double pink carnation like flowers summer to autumn. Vitifolium album has white flowers in spring and summer. megapotamicum is an interesting smaller growing species. The attractive pink form has been around for many years under different names. Relatives of the hibiscus, with lantern or bell shaped hanging flowers ranging from yellows, orange and tangerine through to pink, red and white. If you want to maximize flowers, prune in late winter, this is when the flowering seems to be least prolific, by early summer these easy care plants will be flowering away happily. We have pruned most varieties in winter with no problems.Īfter hard pruning you may need to wait a while for flowers, however they will return in abundance. As for when to prune older plants, in Australia you can do this any time from early spring to mid autumn, just avoid very hot periods and very cold periods. Start by tip pruning young plants to maintain a bushy shape. Common name: Chinese lantern Botanical name: Abutilon x hybridum Description: Evergreen shrubs with attractive maple-like leaves and an open, pendulous habit.

CHINESE LANTERN PLANT FULL

Over time they are a plant that tend to get a little ‘leggy’ but can easily be pruned to maintain shape, full sun in winter is a bonus for abutilon. Mulch again in summer after some rain, and use a general slow release fertilizer in spring and again in summer and late autumn. Provide some moisture, by mulching in spring, and they do like a good fertile soil. These are plants can handle a little shade in the summer, they do like sun in winter, and remember that these wonderful plants will flower almost year round in good conditions. These are an easy plant to care for, mulch well and cut back hard to promote new growth. when cut and dried be careful, because this plant gets around. The best places in which to dry the harvested pods are dark, cool places with good ventilation.The best growing conditions are in a mild to temperate climate, ‘Chinese Lanterns’ grow well in a well drained soil in sun or semi shade (avoid heavy frosts). Find Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi) in Vancouver Victoria Burnaby Penticton. The fruit is strongly diuretic and is highly recommended in case of fevers, common colds and gout due to its high vitamin content. Compared to Physalis Peruviana, Alkekengi taste more sour, so they do especially well added to salads, juiced or made into a delicious jam. They are also rich in pectin which is a complex carbohydrate that may help prevent constipation.

This delicacy is also rich in vitamin A and C, as well as phosphorous, calcium and iron. The fruit harvested when fully ripe can be used fresh, juiced or dried.

Pick the berries only when the pod turns into a creamy color rather then when still red, otherwise they will be too sour to eat or use. Seeds need temperatures in the range of 14-20 degree and light to germinate and the process could take about a month, the plant is considered invasive in some region spreading easily by underground rhizomes rather then self seedling. Today, it’s cultivated mostly as an ornamental plant since its dried pods are excellent material for floral arrangements and decorations. Growing Chinese lantern plants is similar to growing other members of the Solanaceae family such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. These plants can grow in partial shade, but especially in colder climate region, prefer a position in full sun, and well-drained soil. These papery pods contain a fruit that is edible and nutritious, while the leaves and unripen fruit are mildly poisonous. Small, bell-shaped, axillary, white flowers in summer are insignificant. Stems are clad with ovate-rhombic medium green leaves (to 3 long) with entire to undulate margins. The real delight is their large, red-orange, inflated seed pod from which the plant gets its common name. Physalis alkekengi, commonly called Chinese lantern, is an herbaceous perennial of the nightshade family that grows in an upright clump to 24 tall and as wide. This annual/perennial plant grow in warm temperate and subtropical regions. Home » Grow your own » CHINESE LANTERN PLANT: More than just OrnamentalĬommon Name: Alkekengi, Chinese Lantern Plant, Winter CherryĬhinese Lantern Plantor Physalis Alkekengi is closely related to Physalis Peruviana(Ground Cherry) and Physalis Philadelphica (Tomatillo).