Balloon Vine – 5 Seeds

Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) is a scrambling, creeping or climbing deciduous plant. It is branched from the base, climbs by means of tendrils and attains about 3 m in length. Light green inflated seed capsules follow the small white flowers. Inside each capsule reside three seeds, each marked with a perfect white heart. The plant is known for its many medicinal uses.

Common Names: balloonvine heartseed, heart pea, heart-pea, heartseed, love in a puff, love-in-a-puff, small balloon creeper, small balloon vine, winter-cherry.

Balloon Vine Medicinal Benefits

• The whole plant is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, laxative, refrigerant, rubefacient, stomachic and sudorific.
• It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, nervous diseases, stiffness of the limbs and snakebite.
  
• The leaves are used in amenorrhoea.

Growing Balloon Vine

Indoor Sowing: Not Recommended.

Direct Sowing: Spring.

• Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
• Start seeds directly outdoors in a prepared site.
• The seeds need to be covered with 1/4 inch of soil and kept moist until germination which takes about 14-21 days..
• Give the plant a structure to climb as it grows quickly.
• Can grow as a perennial in frost free zones.