Cape Gooseberry Seeds
Cape Gooseberry Seeds - Physalis peruviana - Inca Berry, Goldenberry
Inca Berry, Goldenberry
- Hardy to Zone 10
Full Sun
- Germination Tested November 15, 2023: 100%
- Approximately 30 seeds per packet
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Cape Gooseberry is a delicious fruit native to South America. It is also called goldenberry, Peruvian groundcherry, Inca berry, aguaymanto, uvilla or uchuva. I find these to be much tastier than regular ground cherries (eg Aunt Molly's). The small round orange fruits grow inside a papery husk. You can tell they are ripe when the husk (calyx) turns tan and papery. Wait until they are fully ripe to eat and they will have a very sweet, tropical fruit flavour with a hint of vanilla. You can even leave them on the counter for a few days or weeks to ripen fully.
Cape Gooseberries are fabulous eaten fresh off the plant, as a garnish on fancy desserts, in baking (think cape gooseberry upside down cake), salsa, jam, cocktails, fruit salad, or dried. I like to think of them as "northern pineapples" because they can be used somewhat like a pineapple substitute.
Unlike regular ground cherries that are low growing, Cape Gooseberry is tall (up to 8 feet), which makes picking the fruits much easier. It produces a lot of biomass (leaves and stems) which is helpful for composting in the permaculture garden.
These fruits will last for several months in their papery husks on the kitchen counter without any preservation. They make a delightful tropical treat in January! And the flavour improves after a few weeks or ripening indoors.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds within Canada for a flat fee of $6, United States for $25, and internationally for $25*. Live plants and bulbs can only be shipped within Canada.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive. Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We ship all US orders by tracked packet and they usually take two weeks to arrive.
According to the USDA, most seeds require an import permit to be brought into the US and the permit is free and useable for multiple orders/years. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". In our experience shipping seeds over several years, most small orders will make it across the border without issues, but occasionally they will be held at US Customs.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit and Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by US customs.
Shipping Internationally
International orders are usually shipped via untracked packet. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit and Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held of confiscated by customs.
International shipping countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
If you have any issues with the quality of your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will make it right!
*Shipping fees are in Canadian dollars.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
