Cherry-like green-brown apple-of-Peru berries are encased within green or black-mottled calyces. Branches with mature Chinese lantern-style fruits can be dried and used for winter decoration.
The apple-of-Peru plant is poisonous in all parts, but especially in the roots. Various alkaloids accumulate there. Also contained in the plant is nicandrenone, known for its cytotoxic effect.
In the southern states of the US, people have rubbed the leaves of the apple-of-Peru plant on their skin as a fly repellant. In addition, the juices from the foliage and roots have been mixed with milk in a dish, which is then set out to attract flies. When the flies feed from this concoction, they die. This is the origin of the common name ‘shoo fly plant’.