The plant is as unique as the name. The plant goes by many names- bladder cheery, Chinese Lantern Plant Poisonous, Japanese lantern, sky lantern, strawberry ground cheery and winter cheery. This is native to many regions from South Europe to North and South Asia.
It is a member of flowering plant from the nightshade family. The plant comes in very different colors yellow, orange, pink, green and the most dominating is the color red. One can easily find red Chinese lantern plants. These are highly used for ornamental purposes as these plants are extremely beautiful forming a shape of a lantern.
But are these beautiful attention seeking safe, is Chinese lantern plant poisonous? Let’s find it out.
Chinese Lantern Plant
These paper like thin plants are easily identified in the field by its vibrant colors and its large red- orange-ish paper like covering over its fruit which looks similar to paper lantern, hence the name. These are majorly used in gardens, lawns and yards for decoration objective as these are very elegant and will bring a pop of color to your place.
The plants grow up to 40-60 cm with spirally arranged leaves 6-12 cm long and 4-6 cm broad. The flowers of the plant are white in color with a five-lobed corolla and a big paper like texture covering the fruit.
Its features are not only limited to its beauty, traditionally the plant was used for its medical purposes. Ancient Chinese books talk highly about the uses of the plant to treat people. The plants was used as a remedy for treating high fever, assisting during child birth, aid as a cooling agent by reducing heat during summers, maintaining mental serenity and juice of the plant was consumed to treat jaundice.
The fruit of the plants is also used as antiseptic, liver corrective and sedative. The fossils seeds of the plant are found in Siberia, Germany and Europe. Coming back to are these goodies filled Chinese lantern plant poisonous?
Chinese Lantern Plant Poisonous
Finally, the answer is yes, most parts of the Chinese lantern plant are poisonous not just for humans but also for pets. The sweet looking plant can become highly dangerous if not taken precaution while eating.
The unripe fruit and leaves or any part should not be consumed if it is not fully ripe to the extent that it automatically falls on the ground. There is no harm is consuming the ripe fruit.
It’s the unripe fruit you need to be aware of as it contains atropinic compounds. Consuming unripe fruit of the Chinese lantern plant will lead to various dead serious side effects like dry mouth, increased heartbeat, hallucination and if the proportion is high it can even lead to coma and death. Therefore, it is safe to say that Chinese lantern plant poisonous, indeed. So consume carefully as things might get irreversible.
Cultivation
These gorgeous ornamental plants have unfortunately slowly started escaping from the cities cultivation. Growing them is not a daunting task and within some time you will have these elegant ornamental plant in your house, gardens and yards.
- Spring is the right season to plant them, post the danger of the frost has passed.
- Use of moist and well drained soil is the foundation of growing healthy plants.
- These require sufficient sunlight throughout the day in order to grow.
- One should keep close check on the plant’s growth as it roots spreads out underground quickly shooting up unwanted shrubs. Before planting the seeds of the plant make sure you have enough space for the same.
These are the only conditions you have to keep in mind to grow these attention seeking plants. Keeping in mind that some part of the Chinese lantern plants poisonous and not edible.
Heritage: Chinese Lantern Plant
In Japan these lantern looking like fruits hold a precious place in the ancient culture. These are offered in the Bon Festival with the intention of guiding the souls of the dead in their journey. This is held every year on 9-10 July near a Buddhist temple.
Now you know everything about these and that Chinese lantern plant poisonous.
Key to Your Queries
Q1. What are the side effects of Chinese lantern plant?
A1. The side effects of Chinese lantern plant are dry mouth, increase heart beat and if excess consumption of unripe fruit it may lead to coma and death.
Q2. What is the problem with Chinese lantern plant?
A2. The problem with Chinese lantern is that the roots of the plant are invasive and spread across the ground allowing many unwanted shrubs to grow.
Q3. Is Chinese lantern plant poisonous to dogs and cats?
A3. Yes, the plant is poisonous to dogs and cats and even for humans if consumed the unripe fruit, leaves or any other part.
Q4. Is Chinese lantern plant poisonous to touch?
A4. No the plant is not at all poisonous to touch.
Q5. Is Chinese lantern plant edible?
A5. Many think that the fruit of the plant is poisonous to eat but in reality it is edible once it’s fully ripe.
Q6. What is abutilon Chinese lantern plant?
A6. The plant Abutilon resembles from Chinese lantern in looks but they are often refereed as one or as abutilon.
Q7. How is a Chinese lantern tree?
A7. The tree of the Chinese lantern plant is a medium to high 30-40 feet in height which grows during spring season and bear beautiful lantern like looking plants.
Q8. Can you grow Chinese lantern plant in pots?
A8. Most definitely, you can grow Chinese lantern plant in pots with moist and well drained soil and keep it in a sunny corner. Keep a check on the growth of the plant as it spreads too quickly.
Q9. Is Chinese Lantern Plant Poisonous?
A9. Yes Chinese lantern plant is invasive it spreads by wandering rhizomes and fully takes over the underground through its roots, therefore you should plant Chinese lantern next to a lawn or patch that is mowed weekly as the plant will lead to growth of unwanted shrubs.