Ground Cherry Identification: Wild Tomatillo Relative

Your woodland edge plant is ground cherry (Physalis spp.), close kin to tomatillo (P. philadelphica) and tomato. Papery husk encloses marble-sized fruit.

Identification

• Lantern-like inflated calyx (husk) around fruit.
• Fruit yellow-orange when ripe, sweet-tart.
• Sprawling habit, soft fuzzy leaves.
• Related to deadly nightshade—only eat ripe fruit; leaves/unripe fruit toxic.

Uses

Ripe fruit: fresh, pies, jams, salsa verde. Self-sows readily. Several native Physalis species in Southeast.