Hi My garden could do with a bit of colour and I have seen a beautiful chinees lanten plant does this plant need special soil or a certain area and would in grow in west yorkshire area mant thanks poppy 77
Chinese lanterns (Physalis Alkekengi) is a pretty easy plant as long as the ground is not waterlogged in winter. Sun or shade and hardy tends to spread but fairly easy to control.
ive read that it can take over the garden ? ? I have planted some seeds and they are taking over the window sill, and have now decided to transplant them to a large pot ... wondering if they will survive as well ? ?
They will do alright in pots. They do spread a bit. I put them in last year, but did not flower. This year they are popping up all along the bed. Hope they flower this year but i think i,ll have to dig some root up after summer.
oh my goodness pete, my garden is waterlogged and the stuff just grows like weed - have to say it is under the snowberry hedge so could be dried by roots, I just leave is as semi weed, but love the lanterns in Autumn.
Just goes to show what works for some, doesn't for others and vice-versa. I'm begining to get this picture of your garden, a bit of a frosty swamp. :D :D
Yes pete, it is a frosty seamp that floods, BUT the inventiveness it requires to plant it is very creative. AND we have some great hot bed areas too, such as the south facing house wall where nerines love to flourish and my chocolte cosmos just romps!
Oh I am now offended! Good bits are good bits cos you know how to make the best of them! I know what you mean though, you have to be a bit clever as it is not only wet in winter, but can be bone dry in summer and there are few plants will tollerate both conditions. we make insurance policies and underplant with slow growing stuff which will readily transfer should we loose it all.
thanks very much for answering, ive transplanted them to a large pot, and day 2 they still look good ...... not expecting anything this year, but hopefully next year the kids will have fun squishing the orange lanterns .... well thats what i used to do as a child .. lol !!