# Ground cherry improvement Europe

**URL:** <https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/ground-cherry-improvement-europe/4221>\
**Category:** Adaptation Projects\
**Tags:** ground-cherries\
**Created:** [September 12, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/ground-cherry-improvement-europe/4221 "2025-09-12T06:09:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 23

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**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/ground-cherry-improvement-europe/4221/23 "2026-04-17T22:11:02Z")

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> [@Jeff](#):
>
> We have noticed that cape gooseberries may be induced to flower by modulating photoperiod. For example, seeds can be started indoors in January, with 18 hours of artificial light.

Yes I’ve read the same that _Physalis peruviana_ are indeed trigger to flower in shorter days. This is why most gardeners stuggle to get them to fruit in their season.

> [@malterod](#):
>
> My assumption is you’re working with these three complexes
> 
> - grisea-pubescens-pruinosa complex (all in section Epeteiorhiza)
> - peruviana complex
> - tomatillo complex (philadelphica and ixocarpa possibly angulata - all in section Angulatae)

_Physalis pruinosa_ isn’t part of that complex, it’s actually a wild Mexican species that we incorrectly as gardeners & seed sellers been applying this whole time.

The true Physalis pruinosa is actually a wild mexican species previously classified as Physalis maxima.

The real Physalis pruinosa is actually a wild Mexican Species that looks like this.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/4/7/47829c6608f510207057cf830ab6717e7a4f1371.jpeg)

All of the typical _Physalis pruinosa_ sold are actually _Physalis grisea_ this whole time.  
Meaning The actual correct scientific name for Aunt Molly’s Groundcherry is _Physalis grisea_.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/0/2/027f9dcf09284af1a3bf1900e9664e8233601603.jpeg)

The flowers of _Physalis grisea_ look like this, identical with Aunt Molly’s Groundcherry. Anyone who’s been growing “Physalis pruinosa" can you confirm your plant’s flowers look like this?

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/6/2/62ef49822aca61d4041e752d2ec163199690b362.jpeg)

For those who are curious about my sources & why I came to this conclusion  
Here’s the study I got the photos from : ​[Frontiers | Taxonomic revision of Physalis in Mexico](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1080176/full)

_Physalis grisea_ & _Physalis pubescens_ do form a species complex with very few differences.  
I made a _Physalis_ species ID guide to distinguish them

> [@Physalis Species ID Guide](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/physalis-species-id-guide/4655):
>
> I made a Physalis species ID Guide to help distinguish between Physalis species, especially among cultivated & wild species commonly found growing in the U.S. I figured since we’re gonna be crossing species & making landraces, a guide would be helpful! I also made a PDF version for clear viewing & zooming in. [Physalis Species ID Guide.pdf](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/u2I3LzWiyxTRReB2H6zftLI3oh2.pdf) (6.5 MB) Let me know if you find this guide helpful and if there’s anyway I can improve it or fix errors.

I also made a Wiki page on _Physalis_ & all other closely related genera specifically

> **[Physalis](https://edibleplants.wikioasis.org/wiki/Physalis)**

The section classification of _Physalis_ is very loose & polyphyletic. This is because every species of the Subgenus _Rydbergis_ is theoretically cross-compatible. The sections are just loose groupings. No phylogenetic tree with all _Physalis_ species has been made yet.  
This is the closest but a lot of species are still missing (This is the whole _Physaleae_ tribe)

 ![Physalinae Phylogenic Tree EPIC Super Detailed Physalis Groundcherry Tomatillo Part 1 Solanaceae](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/1/f/1f3640d52327bef044c7fd2d24bf9bf82fef3d5d.jpeg)

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