{"id":1688422,"date":"2021-08-30T14:41:58","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T19:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1688422"},"modified":"2023-11-23T22:39:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T04:39:13","slug":"chinese-lantern-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/chinese-lantern-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow a Chinese Lantern Plant\u2014the Mesmerizing Bloom You Need in Your Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"Summer gardens are relatively easy to plan. With countless flowers and shrubs in a plethora of colors, an interesting garden is almost guaranteed. But as those colors inevitably fade, the garden needs something to carry it into autumn.\r\n\r\nTrees like maples and aspens often get all the credit for fall color. But we have something a little different that might pique your interest. When summer's heat has taken its toll, Chinese lantern is just getting started.\r\n

Why We Love Chinese Lantern Plants<\/h2>\r\nThis multi-season plant is a bit of a chameleon in the garden, constantly changing as the seasons fade. While every plant produces a flower, the white blooms that appear on Chinese lantern plant in July are nothing to write home about. Just wait until fall! The flowers develop into small green pods (or husks) that enlarge, eventually transforming to yellow, then a brilliant reddish-orange by September.\r\n\r\nInside each pod is a round fruiting body. Once mature, the pods resemble lanterns and can be cut for fall floral arrangements<\/a>, where they'll hold their color for several months. If left in the garden, the pod skeletonizes to reveal orange fruit in the winter.\r\n\r\nIt's hard to believe that something so interesting can be so easy to grow!\r\n

What About the\u00a0Other\u00a0<\/em>Lantern Plant?<\/h2>\r\nMany plants share a common name, but all have a Latin version, which is the only way to know that you have the right Chinese lantern plant. There are two Chinese lantern plants, both of which have lantern-like flowers, but they're very different plants. Physalis alkekengi<\/a> is perennial in zones 3\u20139 and, depending on the region, may also be called Japanese lantern plant or strawberry ground cherry. This is the lantern plant we're talking about.\r\n\r\nThe other Chinese lantern plant, Abutilon<\/a>, is better suited to houseplant status in cold climates. It's hardy in zones 9\u201311.\r\n

How to Grow Chinese Lantern Plants<\/h2>\r\nLook for seeds at a local garden center or Eden Brothers<\/a>. Start seeds indoors six weeks before your last frost date or direct sow them after all danger of frost has passed. Just be sure you don't cover the seeds with soil. They need light to germinate and will do so in about two to three weeks. With full sun and well-draining soil, you should have a healthy crop of lanterns by September.\r\n\r\nLearn how to read a seed packet<\/a> before you start.\r\n

Tips for Chinese Lantern Plant Care<\/h2>\r\nIt's easy to grow\u2014perhaps too<\/em> easy. This plant loves to spread by way of rhizomes that form dense mats just beneath the soil surface (think mint) or by releasing seed throughout the garden. Give Chinese lantern plant boundaries by growing it in containers or enclosed beds where it can't impose its aggressive enthusiasm on other garden mates.\r\n

Tools You'll Need<\/h2>\r\n[embed_section]\r\n\r\n[embed-content imageid=\"1688471\" title=\"Seed Starting Tray\" buybutton=\"Shop Now\" linkurl=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/Ferry-Morse-18-Pot-Seed-Starting-Tray-P180\/204705465#overlay\" newtab=\"true\" \/]\r\n\r\n[embed-content imageid=\"1688470\" title=\"Seed Starting Mix\" buybutton=\"Shop Now\" linkurl=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/Burpee-12-qt-Seed-Starting-Mix-BP12SSDP48\/300615499#overlay\" newtab=\"true\" \/]\r\n\r\n[embed-content imageid=\"1688469\" title=\"Chinese Lantern Seeds\" buybutton=\"Shop Now\" linkurl=\"https:\/\/www.edenbrothers.com\/store\/chinese-lantern-seeds.html\" newtab=\"true\" \/]\r\n\r\n[\/embed_section]\r\n\r\n[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[\/cf]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Few plants are as easy to grow as Chinese lantern. They ask for little, but deliver a splash of late-season color.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7801,"featured_media":1688481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[339666,303797,303845],"categories-v2":[340126,308432,308456],"coauthors":[340749],"acf":{"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_moat_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"long_pin_file":false},"yoast_head":"\nHow to Grow a Chinese Lantern Plant for Pops of Color | Taste Recipes<\/title>\n\n\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/chinese-lantern-plant\/\" \/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Grow a Chinese Lantern Plant for Pops of Color | Taste Recipes","description":"Just when summer's heat has zapped the life out of your garden, Chinese lantern plant is ready to bloom! 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She loves all aspects of gardening, from selecting trees, shrubs and perennials for her suburban home to growing fruits and veggies in her raised beds. As <em>Taste Recipes\u2019<\/em>s gardening writer, Heather is passionate about helping people navigate the ups and downs of backyard gardening, whether it\u2019s providing guidance on solving vegetable garden problems to choosing the best hydrangea variety. She hopes that by sharing her knowledge, she\u2019ll inspire people of all ages and abilities to get into gardening.<\/p>","twitter":"hereshegrows","instagram":"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heatherhereshegrows","facebook":"","public_email":"","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/heather-blackmore-8a283127\/","tiktok":"","youtube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCuv6eIjEFpAC02XIY8l8B8g","location":"\u00a0Chicago, IL","school_and_year":"University of Illinois","education":"<p>University of Illinois-Chicago, bachelor's in communication, journalism and related programs<\/p>","highlights":"<ul>\r\n<li>25 years of professional experience writing and editing about gardening<\/li>\r\n<li>Two-time recipient of the Garden Writers Association Silver Award (now GardenComm) for garden media<\/li>\r\n<li>Creator of <em>Here She Grows<\/em>, a site focused on gardening tips and tricks, as well as Heather's personal gardening adventures<\/li>\r\n<li>Former Garden Field Editor for <em>Better Homes & Gardens<\/em>, <em>Country Gardens<\/em> and <em>Living the Country Life<\/em><\/li>\r\n<li>Former University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","expertise":"Gardening & plant care","short_bio":"<p>With more than 25 years of experience, Heather has created content for some of the most respected online and print gardening publications. 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