Native to the highlands of South America, the Giant Ground Cherry ( Physalis peruviana ) is prized for its golden fruit enclosed in a lantern-shaped calyx , resembling a small, leafy jewel box. This variety is distinguished by its larger berries compared to its relatives , with a vibrant citrus flavor blended with tropical sweetness , almost candied.

In the garden, it reveals a generous and sunny personality , with its golden-brown papery husks contrasting with the bright orange of the fruit. Cultivated as an annual in Quebec, it is nevertheless perennial in its native habitat , and can, for adventurous gardeners, be kept dormant in a dry location and then replanted the following spring.

More demanding than its cousin Physalis pruinosa , it requires warmth and patience , but rewards amply with its decorative abundance and incomparable richness of flavor. A true talismanic fruit in a bountiful garden, it is ornamental, delicious, and a source of wonder.