Plant ID please

[InTheNotswolds]

What is this? Not the sunflower I thought it was!!

Physalis peruviana, commonly called Cape gooseberry, goldenberry or Peruvian groundcherry

Gosh, that’s a surprise!

Yes, physalis. I love these - such nice pinapple-y berries, beautiful husks, easy to grow, virtually no care or staking required, cuttings root in water easily. I accidentally only had one plant this year, so found out you'd have a better harvest with more plants. I think the bees are still learning so I occasionally use a little brush to pollinate.

Depending on the advice you read it's either not hardy, or hardy to about -5 to -10. I overwintered one outside last year, and a city farm near me grows it as a perennial. Hardy enough for the urban south!

Looks a lot like tomatillo, but physalis plant and leaves are hairy and soft.