Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry

Physalis pruinosa

fruit

Aunt Molly's is a Polish heirloom ground cherry, or husk cherry, that wraps small golden fruit in a papery lantern husk like a tiny tomatillo. The fruit is sweet and aromatic, tasting of pineapple and vanilla, and ripens prolifically on sprawling 1 to 2 foot plants. It self-sows and keeps for weeks in the husk.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Basil — Shares warm-season conditions and helps repel aphids and whiteflies
• Tomato — A nightshade relative with the same needs and timing
• Pepper — Enjoys the same heat and full sun alongside the husk cherries

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Flea beetles →

  Float row cover over young transplants until established; mature plants outgrow the damage

• Cutworms →

  Wrap cardboard collars around transplant stems at planting

• Aphids →

  Hose off colonies and encourage ladybugs and lacewings

🌾 Harvest & storage

Let the fruit ripen fully and drop on its own; the husks turn papery tan and the berries inside go golden-orange and sweet. Gather the fallen fruit from around the plant every few days, and store them in their husks, where they keep for a month or more.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Ground cherries are a good source of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, eaten fresh out of hand or cooked into jams, pies, and sauces.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Eat only the fully ripe fruit (golden, with the husk dried and papery). The leaves and unripe green berries contain solanine and are toxic - do not eat them.