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.
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) | 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
Less than 12 inches
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High; Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Papery; Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The deeply cut leaves are faintly pubescent with pinnate venation.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The small, three-sided white flowers grow to just over an inch.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
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.
Stem detail
Young stems may have fine hairs. The stems have many branches with forked axillary tendrils that the plant uses to climb.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Tropics & Subtropics, Mexico
Wildlife value
Bees, wasps, butterflies and flies visit the flowers.