Cape gooseberry

Physalis peruviana

Layer 3 · Shrubs
Edible companion

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the South American Andes, physalis is a short-lived shrubby plant that produces orange berries enclosed in a papery calyx. It is highly valued in food forests for the exotic flavour of its fruit and prolonged production.

It is harvested now — September is one of the harvest months.

See which trees Cape gooseberry grows well with

These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.

Cork oak

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Medium
Light: Full sun
Size: Herbaceous perennial up to 1.2 m
Mature diameter: 1 m
Soils: Loam, Sandy
Climates: Atlantic coast, Hot, dry Mediterranean

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May — Planting
June
July — Harvest
August — Harvest
September — Harvest
October — Harvest
November — Harvest
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Its sweet and tangy fruits are eaten fresh or in desserts, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Where to buy

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

Cork oak

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.