Chinese Lantern (Alkekengi officinarum), also known as Physalis alkekengi, is a perennial plant belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is native to Asia and Europe and is well-known for its distinctive and decorative orange-red husks that encase its fruit. These husks resemble paper lanterns, giving the plant its common name.
The plant typically grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) and spreads through rhizomes. Its leaves are broad, lance-shaped, and bright green, measuring about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length. The flowers are small, white, and bell-shaped, appearing in the summer. After pollination, the flowers give way to small, round, orange to red berries, which are encased in the characteristic lantern-like husks.
Chinese Lantern plants prefer well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and are relatively drought-tolerant once established. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.