Apple of Peru

Nicandra physalodes

The shoo-fly plant has bell-shaped flowers that are most commonly pale blue and white, but there are also forms with violet flowers and with white flowers. The flowers are short-lived, opening for only a few hours each day. Flowers appear from June to October. Cherry-like, green-brown berries are encased within green or black-mottled calyces. Branches of the mature Chinese lantern-style fruits can be dried and used for winter decoration.