Hi all! I've been looking for perennial ground cherry seeds for quite some time. Either Physalis heterophylla or P. Virginiana. Although they are native in my area, I haven't been able to locate wild specimens yet to save the seeds. Would anyone know where to get some of these seeds? Thanks!

Those sound like an exciting plant to grow.

You might have some luck contacting baker creek seeds as they often carry unusual plants. If they don't have the seed, chances are they know someone who does.

Let us know if you find any.

I'm wondering the same thing. I've heard of people growing ground cherries (or tomatillos?) that reseeded. I'd love to know of a variety that reseeds or is perennial!

So, I did a little more research, and found that the hardy, cold-zone perennial varieties are clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla) and smooth goundcherry(Physalis subglabrata). You can order seeds though Oikos (http://oikostreecrops.com/products/berries-shrub-crops/yellow-groundcherry/).

I also emailed both Territorial Seed (http://www.territorialseed.com/category/tomatillo_and_ground_cherry_seed) and High Mowing (http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-Tomatillo-Seeds1.html) about their ground cherries and tomatillo seeds. I found out that their seeds are a different variety, and not cold-zone perennial, but they supposedly will reseed happily all by themselves in our climate.

I hope that helps!

Territorial Seeds in Oregon offers two types of ground cherries.

Veronica I know what you are talking about. I will post something on the forum this summer if i find them again. They are easily zone 3 hardy, but in a garden they are like quack grass. If you helped them start in a dry thin grassy area like a road side bank, so they get sun and not smothered out, one could like their perennial habit. Maybe a orchard ,if sunny enough. Like many hard to control plants they can be hard to establish were they need to be. In their natural habitat they seem to behave nicely.