CAPE GOOSEBERRY, Physallis peruvian

Native to South America, the cape gooseberry is a low lying bush with its bright orange berry enclosed in a pale brown parchment-like case, called the Cape. The berry is the size of a cherry tomato, is very aromatic and full of tiny seeds. They are delicious eaten straight from the Cape or made into gooseberry Jam.  They can be added to salads, desserts and cooked dishes, they are delicious stewed with apples or dipped in chocolate.  They can also be dried or used in savoury dishes with meats and seafood. 
The small cucumber beetle also enjoys feasting on the cape gooseberry although they munch only on the leaves.  Hand pick any beetles that you see as they are capable of breeding into large numbers very quickly.

Weed Warning: This old time favourite is very easy to grow. Birds and critters will enjoy its sweet fruit and it can be found growing in both native vegetation areas and occasionally in pasture areas. It is not a dominant weed but it can be somewhat of a nuisance when working to restore native vegetation areas.

125mm | $7.90 AU | Seeking Propagation Material |

Tips on Cape Gooseberry ^BETA

We welcome your Tips on Cape Gooseberry. Share Your Tip.

Cape Gooseberry

I planted them outdoors with the tomatoes but they had not had time to ripen before the autumn came. This year I am starting them a month earlier than the tomatoes. | G. Stevenson - London, U.K. 06-Feb-2006

Cape Gooseberry

I did not plant them, they came up by bird dropings. They only grow in one garden in my yard, surrounded by ferns and under a big gum tree. I do not water it and it comes up every year.It grows only in winter in Queensland. | L. Kiehne - Brisbane, QLD 29-Jun-2008

Cape Gooseberry

I love my Gooseberries, but so do the little beetles in Brisbane, the larva make short work of the leaves, and I don't like spraying too much around the fruit. | David O'bryan - Mansfield, QLD 18-Oct-2008

For further information:

California Rare Fruit Growers

Updated: 30th of June, 2008 at 12:39pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright