Common Name: Virginia Ground Cherry

General Information

Physalis virginiana is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a deeply buried, stout, rhizomatous rootstock. A sparsely branched plant, it can grow around 10 - 40cm tall[]..
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. In Manitoba, the fruits are gathered in quantity and preserved (canned) for winter use[].
Physalis virginiana has a wide distribution, is common and there are no known major threats affecting its population. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

The unripe fruits and foliage of Physalis species contain solanine and other solanidine alkaloids and are toxic if ingested in large quantities. The ripe fruiys are usually edible, and several species are cultivated for these fruits[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. America -central and eastern Canada, through central and eastern USA to central Mexico

Habitat

Sandy soils, prairies, fields, thickets, pine-oak-hickory woodlands, gravelly pinyon-juniper slopes, disturbed habitats, sandy or gravelly road­sides, cultivated ground, waste places, along railroads; at elevations from 50 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[].
This plant has been growing successfully with us in Cornwall since 1990, though it is not setting fruit[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. The fruit is best after it has been touched by a frost[]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten.

Medicinal

Extracts from the plant have shown anticancer activity[].
An infusion of the whole plant has been used in the treatment of dizziness[].

Other Uses

This species is a wild relative of, and potential gene donor to the crops tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa), low-ground cherry (Physalis pubescens), and Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[].
Division in spring[]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Basal cuttings in early summer[]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.