Thick-leaved Ground-cherry

Physalis crassifolia

A sticky, shrubby 8-20 in. tall perennial, uncommon in coastal sage scrub of the San Joaquin Hills and southern foothills (Roberts). It often grows in the cracks of rocks in dry chaparral (Clarke). Flowering: Mar-May

The coastal Orange County, San Diego and NW Baja CA plants, although ascribed to Physalis crassifolia are more likely an undescribed taxon. Among other traits, true P. crassifolia of the CA desert areas has yellow flowers, as seen here in the Anza-Borrego photos. But our taxon has pale creamy flowers with noticeable dark portions toward the middle of each fused petal of the corolla. Uncommon and quite patchy in Orange County, growing in coastal sage scrub.

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