balloonplant
ExplorePlants
balloonplant
Gomphocarpus physocarpus
The balloon plant is a fun and unique plant that has big, round seed pods that look like balloons! It grows tall and can be found in sunny places, making it a cheerful addition to gardens.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The balloonplant has distinctive, pale green, bladder-like seed pods that resemble inflated balloons. Its stems are upright, bearing narrow, lance-shaped green leaves and clusters of small, white to cream flowers with a purplish center.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceaeGenusGomphocarpus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
In some places, people call it "Hairy Balls" due to the fuzzy texture of its pods!
Its scientific name, physocarpus, means "bladder-fruit" because of its puffy pods!
The 'balloons' are actually seed pods and can grow larger than a golf ball!
The balloonplant is related to milkweeds, a favorite food of Monarch butterflies!
Special abilities
Ability
Sap Shield
Balloonplant produces a milky white sap containing toxins, which deters most herbivores from munching on its leaves and stems.
Ability
Caterpillar Cuisine
Balloonplant provides food for Monarch butterfly caterpillars, who eat its leaves and absorb its toxins for their own defense.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-200 cm
- Spread
- 50-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to Fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Caterpillars feed on leaves, absorbing toxins for defense.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar, aiding in plant reproduction.
depends on
Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus equestris
Feeds on seeds and sap of milkweeds, including balloonplant.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
Cotton BushSilk Plant
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is balloonplant?
100-200 cm
How wide does balloonplant spread?
50-100 cm
How big are the flowers on balloonplant?
1-2 cm
When does balloonplant bloom?
Summer to Fall
Is balloonplant edible?
No
Is balloonplant toxic?
Mild
What is balloonplant's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is balloonplant pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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