Chinese Lantern
Physalis alkekengi
Dogs: Moderate
Cats: Moderate
Plant Information
Winter Cherry, Japanese Lantern, Bladder Cherry
Solanaceae
garden
Moderately Toxic
Toxicity Details
unripe berries, leaves, stems
Solanine glycoalkaloids
2 to 6 hours
moderate
Symptoms to Watch For
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness
- Dilated pupils
- Slow heart rate
What to Do
Contact vet. Unripe berries are most toxic. Monitor for cardiac symptoms. Ripe berries are much less toxic.
About Chinese Lantern
Chinese Lantern is grown for its ornamental orange papery husks. As a member of the nightshade family, it contains solanine alkaloids concentrated in unripe berries and leaves. The decorative dried pods are less toxic but should still be kept away from pets.
Safe Alternatives
These plants provide a similar look but are non-toxic to pets: