Identifying a Mystery Plant from a Historic New Zealand Garden

A plant from a German immigrant’s post-war New Zealand garden has the gardener stumped. Description: 60 cm tall, thin tapering leaves, white-to-rich-pink flowers with a bladder-like calyx at the back.

Information Needed for ID

• Flower size and shape (open, cup-shaped?)
• Sun exposure (full sun?)
• Life cycle (perennial or annual?)
• Winter behavior (dies back? evergreen?)
• Photo (if possible, upload to a web page or email to acottagegarden@msn.com)

Next Steps

With more details or a photo, identification is much easier. The bladder-like calyx suggests Physalis or a related genus, but many plants have similar features.

Please provide the additional information for a precise answer.