Cutleaf groundcherry's presence spans several continents, and its range includes areas where it is native such as in parts of Central and South America and the Middle East. Introduced to a wide breadth of regions, cutleaf groundcherry has adapted to a variety of climates including temperate, tropical, and subtropical. In certain areas of Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, cutleaf groundcherry is sometimes thought to be a concern due to its capability to adapt and may have an impact on local ecosystems, though it is not widely considered a major invasive species.

Cutleaf groundcherry is highly toxic except for ripe fruit. Roots, stem, leaves, seeds, and unripe fruit contain fatal toxins, causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Blood may appear in stool in severe cases. Fatalities are rare but possible. Inexperienced gardeners and small children are most at risk.

Cutleaf groundcherry has spread from its native region into tropical and subtropical climates around the world, where it is considered a pantropical invasive weed, problematic within crops, gardens, and plantations. It’s an erect growing annual that can reach up to 91 cm in height. The large growing plant easily blocks out small native species, and over time, it can disrupt animal habitats. Cutleaf groundcherry is a hermaphrodite, meaning it is self-pollinating, so another issue is its rapid spreading habits. For this reason, cutleaf groundcherry can take over cultivated and rural areas. Removing the plant before the seed husks dry will slow its spread.

The best season to control cutleaf groundcherry is in early spring to late summer, ideally before the weed gets a chance to set seeds. Now, let's move to the methods. 1.Pull Out. This is a simple and effective technique that involves manually removing the weed from the root. Make sure to grab the weed at the base, then, using a slow and gentle pull, try to remove the full root system. Doing so makes the plant less likely to regenerate. 2.Smothering. Cover the area with cardboard, newspaper, or a specifically designed gardening fabric to starve the plant of sunlight. After a few weeks, the lack of sunlight, water, and fresh air will kill the plant. 3.Mulching. This involves placing a thick layer of organic material like straw, hay, or wood chips over the soil. The mulch prevents sunlight from reaching cutleaf groundcherry, inhibiting its growth and eventually causing it to die off. 4.Planting Ground Cover. Plant fast-growing ground cover plants in the area. These plants will compete with cutleaf groundcherry for nutrients, sunlight, and space, making it difficult for the weed to thrive. 5.Vinegar Spray. Fill a spray bottle with a regular kitchen vinegar, and spray it directly on the weed. Vinegar is a natural herbicide that can help in controlling cutleaf groundcherry. It's best to do this on a sunny day, as the heat boosts the efficiency of the vinegar. However, be careful as vinegar can also damage other plants, so only target the weed.