Chinese Lantern | 50 Seeds

Classification: Physalis alkekengi (Heirloom) Texture: Papery Calyx | Vellum-Like Role: Perennial Structuralist Seasonality: Autumn through Indefinite Preservation

Autumn is usually a season of decay. The Chinese Lantern is the exception.

While the rest of the garden is busy composting itself, this vigorous perennial produces nature’s most impeccable piece of architecture: the inflated calyx. As the season cools, these papery husks turn a brilliant, glowing orange, resembling delicate paper lanterns suspended on a wire.

This is not merely a plant; it is a future artifact. Once cut and dried, the stems maintain their structural integrity and vibrant color indefinitely, providing a sculptural, skeletal elegance that plastic decorations can never emulate.

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The Curator’s Notes:

• The Preservationist: This is the ultimate dried botanical. Hung upside down, the stems cure perfectly, becoming permanent fixtures for winter arrangements. Over time, the orange husk may skeletonize, revealing the berry inside—a decaying beauty that is arguably even more chic.
• The Hidden Utility: Inside the papery cage lies a tart, cherry-like fruit. It is edible and excellent for preserves, though most collectors find the lanterns too beautiful to destroy for the sake of a snack.
• Territorial Instincts: Like many things of great beauty, this plant can be demanding. It spreads via rhizomes with aggressive enthusiasm. Contain it, or it will claim your entire garden bed as its own.
• Germination Ritual: These seeds require a "false winter" to wake up. We recommend a brief 14-day cold stratification (refrigeration) or a 24-hour soak before planting. Do not expect them to cooperate without this protocol.