The tomatillo, a staple in Mexican cuisine often mistaken for a green tomato, belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The plant is known for its tart, zesty fruit that is the primary ingredient in salsa verde.
Overall Plant Dimensions and Growth Habit
The tomatillo plant is a warm-season annual that exhibits an indeterminate growth habit. Most varieties grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet, though some can reach up to 5 feet, with a similar spread. This substantial size gives the plant a bushy or sprawling appearance in the garden.
The central stem of the plant is relatively thick and robust, often displaying hues from green to a purplish tinge, depending on the variety. Due to the heavy fruit set and its natural tendency to spread, the plant often requires support, such as staking or caging, to prevent the stems from flopping over. Without this support, the sprawling branches can touch the ground, leading to voluntary rooting and a less manageable growth pattern.
Identifying Features of Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the tomatillo plant are large and simple, resembling those of its nightshade cousin, the eggplant. They are typically ovate to heart-shaped with edges that are often irregularly toothed or slightly lobed. The foliage generally has a soft, slightly sticky texture and can be a vibrant green color.
The flowers are small, usually less than an inch in diameter, and appear singly in the leaf axils along the stem. Each flower features five fused petals that are often a bright yellow color. A distinguishing feature is the presence of five dark purple or brownish spots near the center of the petals. After pollination, the flower’s calyx begins to grow and enclose the developing fruit.
The Defining Characteristics of the Tomatillo Fruit
The most identifiable characteristic of the tomatillo is the inflated, papery covering that completely encloses the developing berry. This protective structure, called the calyx or husk, forms a lantern-like shell around the fruit. Initially, the husk is green, but as the fruit matures, the husk turns tan, light brown, or straw-colored and becomes dry and brittle.
The fruit itself is a small, spherical berry, typically measuring between one and three inches in diameter. It is ready for harvest when it swells to fill the husk, often causing the papery covering to split open at the base. The fruit is usually firm and bright green, though varieties exist that ripen to yellow or deep purple. A sticky film often coats the fruit underneath the husk, which is easily washed off before cooking or eating.
Distinguishing Tomatillos from Similar Nightshade Plants
The tomatillo shares its genus with other husk-bearing plants, most notably the ground cherry. Both plants produce fruit inside a papery calyx, but several key differences exist in their structure and fruit.
Size and Habit
Tomatillo plants are significantly larger, growing 3 to 5 feet tall with a sprawling habit that needs support. Ground cherry plants are shorter, rarely exceeding 30 inches, and their growth is typically more compact or laterally spreading on the ground.
Fruit Characteristics
The fruits of the ground cherry are much smaller, about the size of a small cherry tomato, and are sweeter, ripening to a yellow-gold color. In contrast, the larger tomatillo fruit is typically harvested when green and firm for its characteristic tart flavor.