Brighten Your Gardens, Indoors and Out with Jerusalem (Christmas) Cherry

Brighten fall containers or your indoor garden with Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) also known as Christmas or Winter Cherry.

This old time favorite seems to be making a comeback. It’s often sold as a potted plant valued for its colorful fruit. The glossy green leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the small white flowers that develop into long lasting red, yellow or orange fruit that resemble a cherry tomato.

Look, but don’t eat the colorful fruit. All parts of the plant, especially the fruit are poisonous to people and pets. So display it in a location where you can enjoy its beauty, but out of reach of curious children and pets.

Grow Jerusalem cherry in a warm brightly lit location free of drafts indoors. Water thoroughly whenever the soil surface is dry, but before the plants wilt. Begin fertilizing in spring as the days lengthen.

A bit more information: Christmas pepper is another popular plant for fall containers and the indoor garden. Provide the same care as your Jerusalem Cherry and enjoy the unique beauty these plants provide.