Balloon Plant Gomphocarpus Physocarpus is an upright, herbaceous plant from the milkweed family, and it's native to southeast Africa. Balloon Plant seeds may be started indoors in pots 6-8 weeks before last spring frost date, or they can be sown directly outdoors after last frost. Previously known as Asclepias Physocarpa and commonly called Balloon Milkweed, Bishop's Balls, Hairy Balls, Nailhead, Swan Plant, Monkey Balls, Elephant Balls, and Balloon Cotton-Bush, Gomphocarpus Physocarpus grows over 6 feet tall, and its slender, single-stemmed trunk has multiple hollow, pale yellowish green branches that are covered with smooth textured, light green, opposite 3-4 inches long, narrowly oblong to lanceolate leaves. Balloon Milkweed blooms with vanilla scented pendulous clusters of small, waxy, cream-colored , with the pink or purple corona flowers in summer. Swan Plant flowers are visited by many different pollinators including bees, wasps, butterflies, and this plant is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly. Balloon Plant is best noted for its soft, spherical, balloon-like, spiny, lime-green seed pods that change their color to tan before splitting open in fall to release numerous silky-haired seeds.
Balloon Plant is often used as an ornamental plant for the striking yellowish, ball-like fruits that add interest and texture, and Balloon Milkweed can be found growing in the back of the garden, containers, pollinator gardens, cutting gardens, drought tolerant gardens, naturalized areas, and as a stand alone specimen, Gomphocarpus Physocarpus seeds germinate in two-three weeks, and established Swan Plant is grown best in moderately moist well-drained sandy soil and full sun tolerating drought and heat. Balloon Plant is planted in the cutting garden just for cutting the stems and follicles to use in floral arrangements.
PLANT PROFILE
Season: Perennial/Annual
Height: 4-6 Feet
Bloom Season: Summer
Environment: Full Sun
Soil Type: Average/Sandy/Moist well-drained, pH 5.6-6.0
USDA Zones: 8-10 (As Perennial) All Regions of North America (As Annual)
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Sow Indoors: Winter/Spring (6-8 weeks before last frost)
Sow Outdoors: Spring/Fall (In warmer climate)
Seed Depth: 1/16 Inch
Germination Time: 14-21 Days
