Strawberry Groundcherry
Alkekengi officinarum
- Native to:
- Albania, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Hainan, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Romania, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Shu Suehiro
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Alkekengi
- Species:
- Alkekengi officinarum
- USDA Symbol:
- PHAL5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fall Color:
- orange lanterns
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soil with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light exposure at 20-25°C after cold stratification. Can be slow and erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI