About
Cardiospermum halicacabum is a tropical, evergreen vine typically cultivated as an annual. It features finely dissected leaves and slender, spiraling tendrils. The small white flowers are inconspicuous, giving way to inflated, round seed pods that house a single black seed marked with a white heart, which is the source of its common name, Love-in-a-Puff.
About the genus
This genus comprises approximately 14 species of herbaceous climbing plants found in tropical areas of the Americas, Africa, and India. The leaves are deeply lobed and hairy, accompanied by twining tendrils and small white flowers that are not particularly noticeable. The seed pods are inflated, leading to the common name 'balloon vine' for plants in this group.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub, Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Hanging basket, Patio and container plants
- Native to
- Tropical Africa, India, North and South America
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Plant out after the last frosts in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Provide support for the twining tendrils (or allow to cascade down from a container). Water freely and apply a balanced liquid feed every 2 weeks
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing seed indoors or under glass in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free