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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Cardiospermum halicacabum is a deciduous Climber growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Cardiospermum acuminatum Miq. Cardiospermum corycodes Kunze. Cardiospermum glabrum Schumach. & Thonn
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots
Edible Uses:
Leaves and young shoots - cooked[1, 105, 177, 272]. Used as a spinach[2]. Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Stems [1d].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic Diuretic Emetic Emmenagogue Laxative Refrigerant Rubefacient Stomachic
The whole plant is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, laxative, refrigerant, rubefacient, stomachic and sudorific[218]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, nervous diseases, stiffness of the limbs and snakebite[240, 243]. The leaves are rubefacient, they are applied as a poultice in the treatment of rheumatism[240, 243]. A tea made from them is used in the treatment of itchy skin[218]. Salted leaves are used as a poultice on swellings[218].The leaf juice has been used as a treatment for earache[240, 243]. The root is diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, laxative and rubefacient[240]. It is occasionally used in the treatment of rheumatism, lumbago and nervous diseases[240].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Ornamental. Among the "Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala State in India, collectively known as Dasapushpam.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a moist soil and a sunny sheltered position[138], but succeeds in most soils[1]. A frost-tender deciduous climber, it is grown as an annual in Britain[188].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 20°c[138]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Preferred Common Name: Balloonvine.
Spanish: Revienta caballo.
French: Pois de merveille.
Portuguese: balaozinho.
Cuba: farolito (var. halicacabum).
Germany: Ballonrebe; Blasenerbse; Herzsame.
Italy: Vesicaria del cuore.
Netherlands: Blaaserwt. Other names: Ambeang baek, Balloon Vine, Buddakakara, Buputwane, Chenet, Fugamane, Ikhambi-leziduli, Kanphuti, Kapal-phodi, Kapal-phor, Karnasphota, Karolio, Kesh lahara, Khok-kra-om, Kok ka awm, Lataphatkari, Likhambilemamba, Love-in-a-puff, Moodacottan, Msendechare, Mudakkathan, Mudakkatran, Mudukottan, Nella goolisienda, Paria gunong, Poniu, Pwepwete, Rudda kankarakoo, Sibjhul, Umubogobogo, Winter cherry,
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Oman, Yemen, China TROPICAL ASIA: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Indochina, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas), Mexico (Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Netherlands Antilles, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts), St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, United States (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.), St. Vincent and Grenadines, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay PACIFIC: Fiji AFRICA: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga), Seychelles
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
This plant can be weedy or invasive. Noxious Weed Information in the US: Alabama -
Class C noxious weed.
Arkansas -
Noxious weed.
South Carolina -
Plant pest.
Texas -
Noxious plant. In New Zealand it is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord. Often found as a weed along roads and rivers.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
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Botanical References
4350200
Links / References
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