Balloon or heart seed vine | Primary industries & fisheries | Queensland Government

Balloon or heart seed vine

Tools

Accessibility

Skip to:

Primary navigation

Navigation path

Balloon or heart seed vine

Balloon vine
Balloon vine flowers
Photo of the Balloon Vine
Balloon vine leaf


General information

Balloon or heart seed vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is named for its fruits, which occur as inflated capsules with pointed tips. When mature, these balloon-shaped capsules split and release the three black heart-shaped seeds encased within.

This vine is densely growing and can climb up to 8 m high in the canopy. The main mode of climbing is via extensive tendrils, which twirl around supporting structure and other plants.

Balloon vine is a Class 3 declared pest plant under Queensland legislation.

Scientific name Cardiospermum grandiflorum
Impacts
  • smothers other plants
  • prevents plants from receiving sunlight needed for photosynthesis
Description
  • leaves made up of nine leaflets, which have toothed margins and are dark green
  • small white flowers growing in clusters with tendrils at the base and in leaf axils
Habitat and distribution
  • commonly found in South East Queensland along waterways, roadsides and disturbed sites
  • grows at forest edges, often right into the canopy of trees
Control
  • manual removal recommended for small infestations
  • plants should be pulled out by roots
  • combination of manual and chemical control may be required for regrowth
  • see the balloon or heart seed vine fact sheet for further information
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 3 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • supply or sale prohibited
  • may require removal from environmentally significant areas
Further information

Rate this page

How useful is the information on this page?

(1=not at all, 5=extremely useful)
Please rate this page (1= not at all, 5= extremely useful)
1
2
3
4
5


(for questions - please use our enquiries form.)

Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 08 September 2011

Footer

© The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation 1995-2012.
Copyright protects this material. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by any means (photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise), making available online, electronic transmission or other publication of this material is prohibited without the prior written permission of The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland. Enquiries should be addressed to SAFTRSCopyright@deedi.qld.gov.au (Queensland residents phone 13 25 23; non-Queensland residents phone 61 7 3404 6999).