
Physalis alkekengi has a long list of common names including both ‘Chinese Lanterns’ and ‘Winter Cherry’. This plant is growing in the ‘earliest’ section (pre-Roman -> 1550) of the Chronological Beds at Cambridge Botanics. The border is laid out, in a linear sequence, to display plant introductions to Britain.
What an interesting way to display plants — I’d love to see something like that here.
Strangely, I found it slightly depressing to see so many of my garden plants in those beds, when I like to think that I support a good cross section of natives!
I always thought this was an exotic import from the east, due to the common Chinese Lantern moniker. Only recently I discovered they are native as far north as the state of Pennsylvania in the U.S., only a couple of hundred miles south of me.
Paz
A logical assumption! The chronological beds were definitely an eye opener for me for a number of what I had supposed to be natives here.
Love this image, Allison!
Thank you, Eliza!