Cape Gooseberry, Physalis peruviana, ordinarily known as Physalis and Peruvian Ground Cherry, is a fruit bearing plant indigenous to South America. It is a member of the plant family Solanaceae, which is related to a large number of edible plants, including Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum and Tomarillo, Physalis philadelphica.

Cape Gooseberry is a perennial, somewhat vine like plant commonly 1 meter in height but under good conditions could achieve 2 meters with spreading ribbed branches covered with fine hairs. Cape Gooseberry is indigenous to Tropical Brazil but long ago got naturalized in the highlands of Peru, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador and became identified with the areas. In the Andean parts of South America fruits grow wild between 800 meters and 3000 meters.

The Physalis peruviana leaves are somewhat velvety, heart-shaped, nearly opposite, 6 to 15cm long. Flowers are bell-shaped, pendulous, born in the leaf axils. They are yellow in color with dark purple-brown spots in the throat. Flowers are followed by fruit that takes 70 to 80 days to mature.

Cape Gooseberry Fruit

The fruit is a small and round berry with smooth, smooth skin and about the size of a marble with many small yellow seeds. It is bright yellow in color and sweet when ripe, making it perfect for snacks, pies or jams. It is also popular consumed fresh in fruit salads. Its most noted feature is the single paper like pod that covers each berry. If the fruit is left inside the husks, its shelf life at room temperature is over 30–45 days.

Cape Gooseberry Propagation Methods

Plant propagation is most commonly by seed but in addition to by 1 year old treated stem cuttings. Cape Gooseberries are self-pollinated but pollination is increased by a gentle shaking of the flowering stems or giving the plants a light spraying with water.

The plant favors a sunny, frost-free location, protected from strong winds. It is frost sensitive and killed at temperatures of about -1°C. It will grow in any well drained soil but performs best on sandy to gravelly loam. In areas with mild winters the plant will last for several years. Physalis peruviana is a member of the family Solanaceae the genus Physalis.

Cape Gooseberry, Physalis peruviana

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