Lost Fruit of the Incas - this beautiful plant is worth growing for its large, velvety, purple veined foliage alone. The fruit is bright orange, about the size of a large cherry tomato and is covered in small hairs that rub off when ripe. The pulp is green, tastes like a lemony pineapple and is considered a delicacy in South America. Produces fruit in its first year in good conditions, harvest autumn/winter. Good in containers. Will survive light frosts. Some plants produce spikes along the ribs.

The plant is a herbaceous shrub up to 2m high, with downy stems, densely white-hairy twigs, and ovate leaves. The fruit may be round, oblong or conical-oval, with bluntly rounded apex; 2-10 cm long, and up to 6 cm wide at the base. The thin, tough skin is coated with a slightly prickly, peach-like fuzz until the fruit is fully ripe, then it is smooth, deep purple-red, and has a bitter taste.