Cape Gooseberry
Physalis peruviana
The fruit of cape gooseberry is rich in Vitamin A, C, and some of the B complexes, and its protein and Phosphorus levels are exceptionally high for a fruit. Its startlingly delicious tropical flavour makes it a piquant savory ingredient in salads and cooked dishes, as well as in absolutely divine tarts and pies. The fruits are also an attractive and exquisite finger dessert when dipped in chocolate, and their high pectin content makes cape gooseberries perfect for a heavenly jam. The fruit also dries into yummy “raisins” that taste like sour cherries! We recommend this as a must-have perennial nibble in the garden, especially for children!
Water: Likes water, but needs good drainage
Hardiness: Frost tender, cut back in the winter
Habit: An annual in temperate locations, but perennial in the tropics. As a perennial, it reaches 3t o 5' tall, with spreading branches and velvety, heart-shaped leaves. After the flower falls, the calyx expands, ultimately forming a beige husk fully enclosing the fruit.
Light: Full Sun to Light Shade
Soil: Sandy loam or clay, not picky if has good drainage
Origin: The history of cultivation in South America can be traced to the Incas
Related products
