Chinese Lantern

Did you know

• After flowering, the calyx swells into a bright orange papery 'lantern' enclosing a single red berry.
• In Japan it is called 'hozuki' and traditionally placed on Obon altars to guide ancestor spirits home.
• The lanterns can be dried and used for years in floral arrangements without losing their color.
• The ripe inner berries are edible and similar to cape gooseberries, but the unripe fruit and foliage are toxic.
• Its rhizomes spread aggressively — most gardeners contain it in pots to keep it in check.

Color meanings

Uses

• dried floral arrangements
• Obon festival displays
• ornamental gardens