Flower Library
Chinese Lantern
Physalis alkekengi · Nachtschattengewächse (Solanaceae)
With its glowing orange lanterns, the Chinese lantern brings autumn straight into the vase. Each lantern is a papery husk enclosing a small berry, first green and then turning a rich orange. We hand-pick the stems fresh at the Veiling Rhein-Maas once the husks are fully coloured, so they keep their hue for a long time.
- Season
- August – September – October – November
- Vase life
- 14–28 days
- Latin name
- Physalis alkekengi
- Colors
- Orange, Orange-red, Green (unripe)
Botanically the Chinese lantern is a close relative of the edible cape gooseberry, but it belongs to the nightshade family. What matters in floristry is not the inconspicuous white summer flower but the later, inflated calyx husk that shifts from green through yellow to a strong orange. The large-fruited franchetii cultivar produces the most evenly shaped lanterns.
In floristry the Chinese lantern is a classic of the autumn and harvest season. We use the stems in bouquets with asters, crab apples, rose hips and grasses, where they add instant warm accents. On their own in a simple vase the lanterns look almost graphic and need little else.
A great advantage of this plant is its dual use: cut fresh it lasts around two to four weeks in the vase, and dried it keeps for several years. To dry it, cut the stems once the husks are orange, strip the leaves and hang them upside down in an airy, dark place. The lanterns then hold their shape and colour across seasons.
Stylistically the Chinese lantern suits everything rustic and natural: dried bouquets, door wreaths, autumn arrangements and Halloween decor. We like to combine it with warm tones such as rust, mustard and deep red. For a more modern look, place a few stems sparingly in a tall glass vase and let the lanterns speak for themselves.
Care
- 01Cut stems at an angle and remove any leaves that would sit in the water to keep it clean.
- 02Fresh in the vase: use only a little water and change it every few days; do not let the husks themselves get wet.
- 03To dry, cut the stems once the lanterns are fully orange, strip the leaves and hang upside down in a dark, airy place.
- 04Keep dried lanterns out of direct sun, otherwise the orange fades over time.
- 05When handling note that the foliage, unripe berries and all green parts contain solanine and are toxic, so keep away from children and pets.
- 06Handle the fragile husks gently in arrangements, as they can tear under pressure.
Frequently asked
- How long do Chinese lanterns last in the vase?
- Cut fresh, the stems last around two to four weeks in the vase. Thanks to our A1 quality from the Veiling the husks are especially sturdy. Dried, the lanterns even keep for several years.
- Is the Chinese lantern poisonous?
- Yes. As a member of the nightshade family the Chinese lantern contains solanine, especially in the foliage and unripe berries; if eaten it can irritate the stomach and intestines. The ripe fruit and seeds should not be eaten carelessly either. The safest approach is to keep the plant away from children and pets.
- When are Chinese lanterns in season?
- In floristry the Chinese lantern is sought from late summer into autumn, roughly August to November, when the husks turn orange. That is exactly when we source fresh stems for autumn and harvest arrangements.
- How do I dry Chinese lanterns correctly?
- Cut the stems once the lanterns are fully orange, remove all the leaves and hang them upside down in a dark, airy place. After a few weeks they are fully dry and keep their shape and colour for years.