Physalis peruviana is a South American species of plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Within its native range, it is called aguaymanto, uvilla or uchuva, in addition to numerous indigenous and regional names. In English, its common names include Cape gooseberry, goldenberry and Peruvian groundcherry.

The history of P. peruviana cultivation in South America can be traced to the Inca Empire. It has been cultivated in England since the late 18th century, and in South Africa since at least the start of the 19th century. Widely introduced in the 20th century, it is now cultivated or grows wild across the world in temperate and tropical regions.

P. peruviana is an annual in temperate locations, but a perennial in the tropics. As a perennial, it develops into a diffusely branched shrub reaching 1–1.6 metres (3+1⁄2–5 feet) in height, with spreading branches and velvety, heart-shaped leaves. The hermaphrodite flowers are bell-shaped and drooping, 15–20 millimetres (5⁄8–3⁄4 inch) across, and yellow with purple-brown internal spots. After the flower falls, the calyx expands, ultimately forming a beige husk fully enclosing the fruit.

The inflated, papery calyx is a prominent feature. The calyx is accrescent until the fruit is fully grown; at first, it is of normal size, but after the petals fall, it continues to grow until it forms a protective cover around the growing fruit. If the fruit is left inside the intact calyx husks, its shelf life at room temperature is about 30–45 days. The calyx is inedible.

The fruit is a round, smooth berry, resembling a miniature yellow tomato 1.25–2 centimetres (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide. Removed from its calyx, it is bright yellow to orange in color, and sweet when ripe, with a characteristic, mildly tart grape-like flavor.

P. peruviana is closely related to the tomatillo. As a member of the plant family Solanaceae, it is also more distantly related to a large number of edible plants, including tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes.

Physalis peruviana was given a botanical species description by Carl Linnaeus in 1763. and given the genus name Physalis after the Greek φυσαλλίς (physallís, 'bladder, wind instrument') in reference to the calyx that surrounds the berry. The specific name peruviana refer to the country of Peru, one of the countries of the berry's origin.

It was grown in England in 1774 and by early settlers of South Africa's Cape of Good Hope before 1807. Whether it was grown there before its introduction to England is not known, but sources since the mid-19th century attribute the common English name "Cape gooseberry" to this fact. An alternative suggestion is that name refers to the calyx surrounding the fruit like a cape, possibly an example of false etymology, because it does not appear in publications earlier than the mid-20th century. Not long after its introduction to South Africa, P. peruviana was introduced to Australia, New Zealand and various Pacific islands. Despite its common name, it is not botanically related to the true gooseberries of the genus Ribes.