Jerusalem cherry

American  

noun

1. an Old World plant, Solanum pseudocapsicum, of the nightshade family, having white flowers and bearing cherrylike scarlet or yellow fruits, cultivated as an ornamental.

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Jerusalem cherry British  

noun

1. a small South American solanaceous shrub, Solanum pseudo-capsicum, cultivated as a house plant for its white flowers and inedible reddish cherry-like fruit

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Etymology

Origin of Jerusalem cherry

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

Dodo had expended all his savings on a handsome Jerusalem cherry tree for Judy.

From Molly Brown's Junior Days by Speed, Nell

Of course, the berries are the charm of this Jerusalem cherry tree.

From The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming. by Shaw, Ellen Eddy

This plant belongs to the same family as the deadly nightshade, henbane, belladonna, thorn-apple, Jerusalem cherry, potato, tomato, egg-plant, cayenne pepper, bitter-sweet, and petunia.

From Object Lessons on the Human Body A Transcript of Lessons Given in the Primary Department of School No. 49, New York City by Lewis, Margaret W.