Apple of Peru is an annual summer blooming plant in hardiness zones 3-8, in higher zones, it is a hardy perennial.  The plant has light blue to purple bell-shaped flowers and is also known as Shoofly plant or Nicandra physalodes and grows from 2-5 feet.  As its name suggests, it is native to Peru and is in the nightshade family.   The blue flowers only last for one day, but the plant produces a succession of flowers from summer to early autumn.   After the flower blooms drop, green lanterns will appear.  In the southern US, people have been known to use the plant as a fly repellent by rubbing the leaves on their skin. They also put the leaves in a dish mixed with milk to attract and poison flies this is how the plant also became known as Shoofly.  While it poisons flies be careful as it can also be poisonous to humans if consumed.   The plant is easy to grow and maintain. The seeds of this plant can be sown outside either in late autumn or before the last frost of spring.  Once the seeds are sown cover them lightly with soil.  Grow them in rich well-drained soil in full sun or a partially shaded location in your garden.