Tomatillo

Physalis philadelphica

Family: SolanaceaeOrigin: Mexico and Central America

Husk Fruit
Warm Season

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Only some parts are edible

Edible parts

ripe (mature) fruit, eaten whole - no need to peel, core or seed

Hazardous parts

flowers, leaves, stems, fruit that is not ripe, all parts except the ripe fruits (NC State wording)

Preparation

Remove the husk and wash off the sticky film that covers the fruit before use (University of Minnesota Extension). Only ripe/mature fruit is to be eaten (NC State). No cooking requirement stated: NC State says the fruits are used raw, cooked, or dried.

Hazard type

Solanine and other solanidine alkaloids

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

People: NC State rates this species Poison Severity High; all parts of the plant are poisonous except the ripe fruits (solanine and other solanidine alkaloids). Pets: not assessed. There is no ASPCA page for tomatillo or Physalis, and NC State's Physalis page tags horses only; a tomato page is a different genus and is not used for pets.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: Grown as a warm-season annual in all US zones
Water needs: moderate
Mature size: Plants roughly 3 ft tall and wide, with a bushy, sprawling habit.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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