![Tomatillo means "little tomato" in Spanish. See more pictures of tomatillos.](https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/tomatillo-1.jpg "Tomatillo means "little tomato" in Spanish. See more pictures of tomatillos.")
Tomatillo means "little tomato" in Spanish. See more pictures of tomatillos.
Tomatillo, a member of the tobacco family, is a tender annual grown for its pulpy fruit, which resembles a small, green tomato. Tomatillo, or ground cherry, grows to 4 feet tall. It has deeply lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and a papery husk that contains a 21/2-inch green fruit. The fruit is widely used in making jams and salsa.
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Common Names: Tomatillo, tomate verde, Mexican tomato, ground cherry
Scientific Name: Physalis ixocarpa
Hardiness: Tender (may not survive first frost)
In the next section, we'll show you how to grow tomatillos.
Want more information about tomatillo? Try:
- Tomatillo Cooking: Learn about tomatillos and other Mexican ingredients.
- Vegetable Gardens: Grow a full harvest of great produce this year.
- Gardening: We answer your questions about all things that come from the garden.
- Tomatillo Stain Help: Learn how to remove vegetable stains from fabric.
