Purple Tomatillo
Physalis ixocarpa 'Purple'
Small, sweet purple fruits with papery husks. Sweeter than green tomatillos — excellent for salsas, sauces, and fresh eating.
The story
Tomatillos have been cultivated in Mexico since at least 800 BCE by the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican peoples, predating the cultivation of their cousin the tomato.
- Origin
- Central Mexico, Mexico
- Family
- Solanaceae
The wider story
Long before modern kitchens, tomatillos originated in Mexico and were actively cultivated during the pre-Columbian era, cementing their legacy as an ancient and enduring culinary treasure.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Gardening tip
When planning your garden layout, keep in mind that this plant can be grown across a wide range of climates, specifically within USDA hardiness zones 4 through 11.
Sources: Grangery
In the kitchen
Tomatillos are a absolute staple of Mexican cuisine. These small, spherical fruits can be enjoyed both raw and cooked in a wide variety of dishes, and they are especially famous as the star ingredient in salsa verde.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
About
The tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica), also known as the Mexican husk tomato, is a plant of the nightshade family bearing small, spherical and green or green-purple fruit of the same name.
At a glance
What it needs
Water
Moderate
USDA hardiness
Zones 4–11
Days to maturity
70 days
Ecology
How it lives
- Propagated by
- Seed
Known as
Names around the world
- en
- Purple Tomatillo
- es
- Tomate de cáscara morado, Miltomate
Full detailsevery field on the record, to copy
- Name
- Purple Tomatillo
- Slug
- purple-tomatillo
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Genus
- Physalis
- Species
- ixocarpa
- Cultivar
- Purple
- Category
- Vegetable
- Hardiness zone (min)
- 4
- Hardiness zone (max)
- 11
- Sunlight
- Full Sun
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Days to maturity
- 70
- Germination rate
- 82%
- Propagule type
- seed
- Pollination type
- Open-pollinated
- Origin country
- Mexico
- Origin region
- Central Mexico
- Container suitable
- Yes
- Indoor suitable
- No
- OSSI pledged
- No
- Hazard level
- 1
- Data completeness
- 73
Generated sections & citations
summaryinaturalist
fun_facts_kidsllm_gemini · confidence 0.95
- gbif (taxonomy)
- inaturalist (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis ixocarpa
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatillo
fun_facts_adultllm_gemini · confidence 0.95
- gbif (taxonomy)
- inaturalist (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis ixocarpa
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatillo
cookingllm_gemini · confidence 0.95
- inaturalist (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis ixocarpa
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatillo
storyllm_gemini · confidence 0.95
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatillo
gardening_tipllm_gemini · confidence 0.95
- sprigloom (hardiness)