Why You Want To Think Twice Before Planting Chinese Lanterns In Your Garden

Physalis alkekengi, better known as Chinese lanterns, make lovely crafts and look pretty while growing in the garden, right? The berry pods are first green, then yellow, and finally orange. But while this may be true, if you happen to have curious kids or pets, keep this plant out of your landscape. Not only that, they're an invasive species related to nightshade that will take over if you're not very careful.

The problem is that there is no easy way to get rid of this horribly invasive plant once it's taken hold. In fact, you will likely have to employ more than one technique, and it could take years to fully eradicate it. Unfortunately, when you hear just how poisonous this plant is, you'll definitely want to. We'll discuss the reasons for keeping Chinese lanterns out of the garden and how to get rid of them and keep them out if you have them.

Okay, so here's how poisonous they are: every single part of this plant is toxic, and the berries that those pretty-looking pods grow inside of them? If you eat them at any time before they're completely ripe, they can even be fatal. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, numbness, headache, upset stomach and cramping, and breathing problems. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to these plants.

But even if you don't have any kids or pets and don't plan on taking the chance of trying to guess when "fully ripe" might be, they are still problematic. These plants are so tenacious and aggressive that they'll overtake anything else you may want to grow. They have a self-seeding propagation through rhizomes under the soil, making it even harder to control what you can't see. This plant can cause major problems for years, so if you already have it growing in your yard, you might want to start your efforts sooner rather than later.

One of the best ways to get rid of them is to dig them up. The problem with this is that you likely won't get every single bit of the entire root system without breaking any of it off. Try to get every piece of the roots, use a long-handled shovel, and push it all the way down into the soil before lifting it up gently. If you get much resistance, dig deeper so you don't risk breaking off the roots. Afterward, you should sift through the dirt to make sure you get every remnant. Make sure there are no stragglers before planting anything anywhere near that area.

If they jump any borders and begin popping up in your lawn, you can mow them down. It might take a while, but with regular mowing, they won't ever flower or set seed. The roots will be starved of nutrients due to the lack of photosynthesis being produced by the leaves.

Another option is to kill them by solarization or smothering the root system. Typically, this is done by using a black tarp, wetting the soil, spreading it out, and anchoring it over the entire area for about four weeks. Using an herbicide is an option, but it carries its own risks. If you still really want to grow Chinese lanterns, the best way to do so is to grow them in a container.