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Cardiospermum corindum

Phonetic Spelling
kar-dee-oh-SPUR-mum ko-RIN-dum
Description

Balloonvine is a tendril-climbing evergreen vine in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family.  It has showy white flowers followed by even shower bladder-like fruits that resemble balloons, hence the common name.  Most members of this family are trees or shrubs, so balloon vine is unique.  It can reach a height and width of 10 feet or more.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#showy fruits#larval host plant#butterfly friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#showy fruits#larval host plant#butterfly friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cardiospermum
    Species:
    corindum
    Family:
    Sapindaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern U.S.A. to Argentina, Africa, China, Srilanka
    Wildlife Value:
    A larval host plant for Miami blue (Hemiargus thomasi) and silver-banded hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis) butterflies; occasional larval host for the gray hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus).
    Climbing Method:
    Tendrils
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Appendage:
    Tendrils
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    1 inch wide oval to elliptical, green turning reddish-brown balloon-like capsular showy fruits. The seeds are round, green turning black, on thin paper walls inside the three parted bladder.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, asymmetrical flowers are 4-10mm in size have four white petals. Two of the four sepals are white to green and almost petal-like. The inflorescence is corymb-like to racemose to paniculate, producing flowers over a long season, all year in some climates.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Twice compound leaves divided into three parts with shallowly toothed (crenate to serrate) to deeply lobed pubescent leaflets. They vary in size from roughly 1-4 inches in length and width. The terminal leaflet is ovate. The leaf stem may be narrowly winged.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Green stem with hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Attracts:
    Butterflies