Family: Sapindaceae
Cardiospermum halicacabum, commonly known as balloon vine or love-in-a-puff, is a fast-growing climbing vine native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is easily recognized by its delicate, deeply divided leaves, small white flowers, and distinctive papery, balloon-like seed pods that contain dark seeds marked with a pale heart-shaped spot. Balloon vine is often grown as an ornamental for its attractive pods and vigorous growth, and it has also been used in traditional medicine in parts of its native range for treating inflammation, skin conditions, and minor ailments.
Despite its appealing appearance, balloon vine poses significant ecological risks, especially in tropical and subtropical regions like Hawaiʻi. It spreads quickly by seed and readily escapes cultivation, climbing over shrubs and trees and forming dense mats that smother native vegetation and alter natural habitats. Its rapid growth allows it to outcompete slower-growing native plants, reducing biodiversity and hindering forest regeneration. Because of its aggressive behavior and ability to spread widely, balloon vine is considered a weedy and potentially invasive species, and planting or allowing it to spread is discouraged to help protect Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Suited to tropical/subtropical climates
- Introduced and naturalized in multiple regions worldwide
- Agricultural and disturbance weed
- Self-compatible; can reproduce in first year
- Tolerates wide range of soil types
- Intentionally cultivated as an ornamental
- Seeds contaminate soybean and other crops
- Forms persistent seed bank
Low Risk Traits:
- Limited to low-elevation disturbed habitats
- Not documented as an environmental weed
- No spines, thorns, or burrs
- Non-toxic to animals and humans
- Requires full sun; shade intolerant
- Does not form dense thickets
- Seeds lack adaptations for wind or water dispersal
- Seeds lack attachment mechanisms for animal dispersal
- Not a prolific seed producer (>1000 seeds/m²)
