Little Lanterns Cardiospermum halicacabum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kar-dee-oh-SPER-mum hal-ee-KAY-ka-bum
- Description
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Native to tropical locations, the Balloon Vine can be found creeping and climbing its way on or along anything that gets in its way in moist thickets, open grounds, grasslands, scrublands, along roadsides, waste locations, riverbanks and other disturbed sites. It is a member of the maple family (Sapindaceae).
It was introduced in the southern and southeastern US where it is considered a noxious weed. Its growth habit can smother and kill native vegetation. To control its spread, pinch off the new growth.
Its common name, Heart-seed comes from the words cardio, referring to the heart and sperma, translating to seed. When ripened, the black seeds have a white heart-shaped pattern. Halicacabum is a Latin word for a plant with inflated fruits.
It serves as a host plant for the caterpillars of several varieties of tropical American butterflies. The Hairstreak butterfly (Theclinae) lay eggs on the young fruits. After hatching, the caterpillars feed on the seeds and pupate inside the capsules. Miami blue caterpillars (Cyclargus thomasi) caterpillars feed on the flower buds.
The edible leaves and stems can be used as an herb or spice as well as a vegetable.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and whiteflies are occasional visitors.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cardiospermum
- Species:
- halicacabum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It can be used to create a screen or barrier.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropics & Subtropics, Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees, wasps, butterflies and flies visit the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Screening
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wind Break
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- The leaves and stems are edible.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The papery, light green seed pods grow to up to 1.10", they mature to brown. They are inflated, 3-chambered, thin-shelled capsules. Each will contain 3 smooth, black seeds with a white heart shaped marking.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The small, three-sided white flowers grow to just over an inch.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The deeply cut leaves are faintly pubescent with pinnate venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems may have fine hairs. The stems have many branches with forked axillary tendrils that the plant uses to climb.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Weedy
