This is a plant usually noticed in its fruit stage rather than when in bloom. The flowers are relatively insignificant, whitish green, hanging beneath the leaves on short stems and difficult to see whereas the fruits are large, brightly coloured and unusual. They resemble lanterns with a bright orange papery covering, turning later into a transparent network of veins to reveal an orange berry inside that can be found well into September or October. The lantern is usually 4 to 5cm long and broad.

The plant is a hardy perennial, overwintering in the form of a rhizome that also enables the plant to spread and multiply vegetatively. It has become well established in central Europe although a native of southern Europe, Asia and Japan. The weak stems have a slightly woody base and are sometimes upright although they often trail.

The white, radially symmetrical flowers, 10 to 15mm in diameter, are carried on short flower stalks and tend to face downwards. They have a greenish or yellow centre and 5 short green, thickly hairy sepals visible behind. These later inflate to become the ‘lantern’ that encloses the cherry-like fruit.