Nicandra physalodes aka Apple Of Peru

Nicandra physalodes is an annual in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its names include apple of Peru and shoo-fly plant. Its native range runs from Peru to northwest Argentina. It comes from regions with a seasonally dry tropical climate. Garden plants have spread into many parts of the world. Escaped plants grow on disturbed ground and in crop fields.

Plants grow upright, with many branches and a bushy shape. Garden height ranges from about 2–5 feet [0.6–1.5 metres]. Spread reaches about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Some accounts report plants reaching 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Soil fertility and moisture affect the final size. The dark stems have angled sides and few hairs. Green leaves grow alternately on long, slim stalks. Their shape ranges from egg-shaped to heart-shaped, with sparse hairs. The edges have blunt teeth, shallow lobes, or waves.

Flowers grow singly where the upper leaves meet the stems. These small bells are pale blue, lavender, or white. Blue flowers have a white throat and pale yellow anthers. Each flower lasts one day, but new blooms keep coming. RHS gives the flowering season as June to October. Bees visit the flowers for both nectar and pollen. Round fruits turn from green to brown as they mature. Each dry berry contains many seeds within a papery calyx. These green or dark husks give the fruit a lantern shape.

Grow this plant in fertile soil that drains well. It prefers full sun but also grows in light shade. Keep the soil moist rather than waterlogged. RHS rates it H5; NC State lists USDA zones 7–10. It completes its growth cycle within a single year. Sow seed in early spring under cover, or outside in mid-spring. Plants seed themselves freely and can become garden weeds. Remove seedheads before they open to limit new seedlings. It needs no pruning and rarely needs stakes. RHS and NC State report few pest or disease problems.

Use it in borders, containers, cottage gardens, or pollinator plantings. The fruiting stems can dry for indoor winter displays. Sources also record folk medicine and fly-control uses. These records do not establish safe home treatments. All parts carry a poison warning, though reported severity is low. NC State also describes the foliage as toxic to mammals. Some accounts record cooked young leaves and fruit as food. Other accounts question fruit safety, so these reports need caution. Do not treat its lantern-like fruit as proof of edibility.