Ballon Plant is a shrubby herbaceous perennial that is native to South Africa in the milkweed or dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. It is a tender perennial in zones 8-10 but can be grown as an annual elsewhere and can reach heights of 6 feet. The name physocarpa comes from the Greek physa, meaning bladder and karpos , fruit, referring to the rounded seed pods. Plant in moderately moist well-drained sandy soil in full sun. It is deer, drought and heat tolerant once established. Use in the back of the garden, as a specimen or in containers. The stems and follicles are often used in floral arrangements. Use caution in handling this plant as the milky latex in the stem is an irritant to some people. The white flowers are not particularly showy and occur in drooping clusters. They are only pollinated by vespid wasps and hornets and more than 1 plant is required. The follicles are the most ornamental feature. They are soft inflated round yellowish-green seed pods that mature to release seeds with silky tufts in fall. As are all milkweeds, this plant is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly. Use in a drought-tolerant or pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monarch caterpillars may feed on the foliage, and aphids can sometimes be a problem.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Vase
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are light green, narrow oblong to lanceolate, 3 to 4 inches long and .4 inch wide.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pendulous clusters of small, waxy white with pink flowers with a faint vanilla scent are borne in leaf axils primarily in summer. Each flower is about ½ inch across, with five strongly reflexed petals.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Round greenish-yellow follicle up to 3 inches across covered with hair-like spines. Matures to tan and releases seeds with silky tufts.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green stems contain a milky latex
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern Africa
Wildlife value
Host plant for Danaus butterflies, including the monarch butterfly. Flowers attract butterflies.
Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.