Agricultural Information:

Plant Family: Solanaceae
Scientific name: Physalis

The ground cherry is a small, bushy plant (1–3 feet tall) with soft, slightly fuzzy leaves and small yellow, bell-shaped flowers with dark centers. The fruit develops inside a thin, papery husk (like a miniature lantern), similar to tomatillos. When ripe, the husk turns dry and tan, the fruit inside becomes golden-orange and falls of off the plant.

Ground cherries are native to the Americas and were cultivated by Indigenous peoples long before European contact. They grow well in a full sun during warmer seasons and self-seed heavily often popping up in gardens year after year.

Ground cherries have a flavor described as being a mix of pineapple, vanilla and tomato. They are eaten fresh, baked into desserts, cooked into jams and salsas, or dried like raisins.

Halachic Information:

Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem*: Ground Cherries are classified as a vegetable. Therefore, it should not be planted near other annuals or a grapevine.

*Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting – annuals & grapevines) generally do not apply outside of the land of Israel; the following laws apply only within the land of Israel.

Information about plants as they relate to torah and mitzvot has been generously provided by Mercaz Torah VeHa’aretz Institute.