Balloon Vine 10 Seeds Cardiospermum halicacabum

Cardiospermum halicacabum, commonly known as balloon vine or love-in-a-puff, is a delicate, climbing herbaceous vine belonging to the Sapindaceae family. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is recognized for its slender, twining stems and finely divided, compound leaves with serrated leaflets that give the plant a light, feathery appearance. The vine produces small, white, four-petaled flowers that bloom in clusters, followed by its most distinctive feature—papery, inflated, balloon-like seed capsules that turn brown as they mature. Each capsule contains three round black seeds, each marked with a striking white heart-shaped spot, a trait that gives the species its name (Cardiospermum, meaning “heart seed”). This fast-growing climber thrives in warm, sunny locations and well-drained soils, often colonizing fences, shrubs, and disturbed areas.