Wikimedia Commons
Sapindaceae
Love in a Puff
Cardiospermum halicacabum
Whimsical love and heartfelt connections.
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Genus
- Cardiospermum
- Native to
- tropical Americas, Africa, India
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- annual or perennial vine
- Height
- 200–350 cm (vine)
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, average
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 8–11
- Lifespan
- annual in temperate; perennial in tropics
Did you know
- Each round, papery seed pod contains black seeds marked with a perfect white heart shape.
- The genus name Cardiospermum means 'heart seed' in Greek, describing that unmistakable heart marking.
- The inflated balloon-like pods are the real show — the flowers themselves are tiny and easy to miss.
- In German folk tradition, the heart-marked seeds are given as love tokens and good luck charms.
- The plant extract is used in cosmetics and skincare products for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Color meanings
White
innocent love and surprise