Prairie ground cherry (Physalis hederifolia)
Prairie ground cherry is a perennial herb, that usually grows up to 30 cm tall and has yellow flowers. It forms dense infestations and reduces productivity in crops and grazing land.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Prairie ground cherry forms dense infestations and:
- competes with crops, (especially summer crops) reducing yields
- outcompetes pasture species reducing productivity
- contaminates grains and hay.
All species of Physalis are potentially poisonous as they contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid. However, livestock rarely eat the foliage and sheep eat the fruit with no apparent harm.
What does it look like?
Prairie ground cherry is an erect, rhizomatous, perennial herb that usually grows up to 30 cm It is sparsely hairy with minute hairs. The above ground parts of the plant die off in autumn or winter and reshoot each spring or summer.
Leaves are:
- light green
- narrow and oval shaped
- up to 5 cm long and 3 cm wide becoming smaller higher up the stem
- on stalks up to 2 cm long
- usually toothed along the edges though sometimes wavy or smooth
- usually alternate, but occasionally opposite at the top of the stems.
Flowers are:
- bell shaped
- pale yellow with 5 triangular lobes often with olive-yellow blotches towards the base
- 2–3 cm in diameter
- present from spring to autumn.
Fruit:
Fruit are berries inside a bladder-like case.
Cases are:
- papery
- dull yellow-green, drying to pale brown or straw-coloured
- 2–2.5 cm in diameter
- 10 sided.
Berries are:
- round 1–1.5 cm in diameter
- orange when ripe
- sticky
- sweetly fragrant.
Seeds are:
- yellowish
- round and flattened.
Stems are:
- branched
- ribbed lengthways
- sparsely covered in minute hairs.
Roots are:
- deep, often growing more than 1 m in depth
- extensive, and horizontal roots produce new growth.
Similar looking plants
Prairie ground cherry looks very similar to perennial ground cherry, (Physalis longifolia), which has olive green botches in the centre of the flower. It grows up to 50 cm tall.
Where is it found?
Most infestations in NSW are in the Murray region. There are also infestations in the Central West, Riverian and Western Regions. It is native to North America.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Prairie ground cherry grows in warm temperate regions, usually in areas with 300 - 500 mm of rain per year. It mostly grows in clay or loam soils though seedlings can grow in alkaline, acidic and neutral soils. It usually grows in open areas in full sunlight but tolerates shade. Established plants are very drought tolerant. Prairie ground cherry grows in cropping land, pastures, areas along roadsides and railways.
Maps and records
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Recorded presence of Prairie ground cherry during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
How does it spread?
By seeds
Prairie ground cherry plants can produce up to 4,500 seeds per year. The seeds can persist for up to 20 years if they are buried in an intact dry berry pod.
Seeds are spread:
- by livestock, birds and other animals that eat the fruit, seeds are more viable after passing through animals.
- by wind and moving water when still in the capsule
- by cultivating equipment
- in contaminated hay.
By plant parts
Pieces of root as small as 1.5 cm can regrow into new plants. These can be spread by cultivation equipment and in contaminated hay.
References
Parsons, W. T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd edition. CSIRO publishing.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 19 March 2026 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Physalis~hederifolia
VICFLORA (2021). Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria. Physalis hederifolia A.Gray. Retrieved 19 March 2026 from: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/f800b80e-a499-4369-9047-a55553ac72c0 Retrieved 19/04/2021.
Wu, H., Stanton, R., & Lemerle, D. (2019). Seed Fecundity, Persistence, and Germination Biology of Prairie Groundcherry (Physalis hederifolia) in Australia. Weed Science, 67(1), 77-82.
More information
Control
If possible, control plants before they flower to limit seed production.
Prevention
To limit the spread of prairie ground cherry avoid driving through or taking machinery through areas infested with fruiting plants. If you cannot avoid these areas clean vehicles and machinery before moving to an uninfested area. You can also request a fodder vendor declaration to limit importing contaminated hay or fodder.
Physical removal
Look for seedlings after rainfall events. Small seedlings can be pulled or dug out when the soil is soft. Physical removal of large plants is difficult because the roots are very deep.
Pasture management
Dense summer growing pasture species can outcompete prairie ground cherry.
Grazing management
If possible, do not let livestock have access to areas with fruiting plants as they will spread the seeds.
Irrigation
Irrigated crops or pastures easily outcompete this weed.
Chemical control
Spraying
Spray actively growing plants before flowering. Cover all of the foliage with the herbicide mixture.
Herbicide options
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
Amitrole 250 g/L + Ammonium thiocyanate 220 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.1 L in 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants, immediately prior to flowering. Respraying will be necessary to destroy regrowth and seedlings.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 34 (previously group Q), Inhibition of lycopene cyclase
Resistance risk: Moderate
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 2.7 L/ha Use a minimum of 1500 L/ha water carrier. Add a non-ionic surfactant.
Comments: Boom spray for non-crop situations. Spray prior to flowering.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 185 mL per 100 L of water. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Spray prior to flowering. For non crop situations.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 40 mL per 15 L of water
Comments: Spot spray prior to flowering. For non-crop situations.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
|
Murray
Core infestation zone: Berrigan Shire Council, Edward River Council, Greater Hume Council, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council. Exclusion zone: Albury City Council, Federation Council, Snowy Valleys Council. |
Regional Recommended Measure
* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Within exclusion zone: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation area: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
| Riverina |
Regional Recommended Measure
* (for Regional Priority - Eradication)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Your local biosecurity weeds officer can help to identify, advise on control, and how to remove this weed. |
| *To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2026
