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Cardiospermum halicacabum

Balloon Vine · Black Winter Cherry · Love-in-a-puff

Family SapindaceaeGenus Cardiospermum

Two inflated papery seed capsules turning brown on a vine, among deeply cut leaves
FruitH. ZellCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
VineExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
lianaPlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Assam, Bahamas, Bangladesh and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
9-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

80% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113Public domain
Show the original text
Cardiospermum (Sapindaceae). C. halicacabum germ. 70D GA-3(4/5 in 3rd w), 70L(515 in 3rd w), 70D(1/6 in 4th w), 40-70D(1/3), and 40-70L(0/3). Germination is stimulated by light or GA-3, and 3 m at 40 is harmful.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113Public domain
Show the original text
Cardiospermum (Sapindaceae). C. halicacabum germ. 70D GA-3(4/5 in 3rd w), 70L(515 in 3rd w), 70D(1/6 in 4th w), 40-70D(1/3), and 40-70L(0/3). Germination is stimulated by light or GA-3, and 3 m at 40 is harmful.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

17% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113Public domain
Show the original text
Cardiospermum (Sapindaceae). C. halicacabum germ. 70D GA-3(4/5 in 3rd w), 70L(515 in 3rd w), 70D(1/6 in 4th w), 40-70D(1/3), and 40-70L(0/3). Germination is stimulated by light or GA-3, and 3 m at 40 is harmful.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2.

0% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113Public domain
Show the original text
Cardiospermum (Sapindaceae). C. halicacabum germ. 70D GA-3(4/5 in 3rd w), 70L(515 in 3rd w), 70D(1/6 in 4th w), 40-70D(1/3), and 40-70L(0/3). Germination is stimulated by light or GA-3, and 3 m at 40 is harmful.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cardiospermum p. 113. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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