Physalis breeding

What's up Patrick! I wanna ask if you got any native strawberries and ground cherries to grow for wildlife and people at my community farm in Chicago to help my community thrive for years to come. I'm also growing for Native Americans and I'll welcome your aid if it's available. Thanks!

I have been reading through some of the research posted in the thread, and according to my understanding, Physalis alkekengi is starting to be recognized as part of its own, new genus, and sources are starting to refer to it as Alkekengi officinarum instead. It is believed to be somewhat closely related to Physalis, although even more closely related to Carpenter's Groundcherry (Calliphyslais carpenteri), a tropical and subtropical perennial which until recently has been known as Physalis carpenteri.

While it seems like there might be some breeding potential for those two species, and possibly even between them and Physalis, these developments sadly do seem to make it less likely of productive crosses between Alkekengi and North or South American Physalis.

Mark Wiiliam: Thats really interesting about the alkekengi, thanks for sharing. I grew P. Grisea, but it did not reseed itself, I might have some dried fruits in storage though.

Blake Lenoir: I have plenty of native strawberries around my parents place, but I've never saved seed from them. You might have better chance just transplanting a bunch during the autumn as they're pretty easy to find on road sides or forest clearings.

The two physalis longifolia / virginiana populations that did survive are now all flowering and starting to fruit. I'm not sure if the northern population will get to mature fruits, but the urban one should. Maybe next year the northern plants will start being more productive. The urban ones king of got overtaken by some malabar spinach and calendula plants, but they're hanging in there.

I've taken interest in the Physalis breeding project. of my own accord I had similar thoughts to what I had seen here regarding P. longifolia x P. peruviana, and other ideals to enhance cold hardiness and yield. Also just to see if I can, and what I'd come up with.

I came across a few other species available on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ValeyracSeeds?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1139396778&search_query=physalis

P. floridana, P. minima, P. viscosa, P. angulata, P. acutifolia

Most of my project will begin in earnest next spring, this was my first year growing P. peruviana and I just adore these plants, as do the native bees.

I'll be in touch,
   Ball Zacheriah.

So I know it's silly, if not downright foolish... but I've the space and capacity, I have the technology... I decided a few weeks back to sow some of the Physalis sp. namely P. longifolia & P. crassifolia, with P. peruviana as a control of sorts. I know I'll be coddling them all winter with my sunniest window and supplemental grow lights, and I know it'll be a hastle, but god blimey I'm doing it. and I'm glad I did, because amoung my two longifolia seedling I've what appears to be a variegated form. It struggled hard as an infant seedling, and looked for a moment as though it wouldn't recover. I gave it the chance, treated it as best I could and sure enough it managed to form a couple of pale misshapen leaves. Eventually when it's first leaf was large enough, it became plain to see that my little longifolia is a variegated form. I wonder how uncommon this is.

I'll post a couple images when I figure out how.

Interesting ! could have an ornemental use. Although I'm personally not the biggest fan of variegated leaves :P Post some pics when you have the time !