Love-in-a-puff vine

Cardiospermum halicacabum

Features

  • Cut-and-come-again
  • Easy to grow
  • Foliage & Filler
  • Vine

Description

Few things rival the delicate beauty of a fully blooming love-in-a-puff vine. The long, ferny-leaved vines are loaded with tiny white blossoms and the most interesting balloon-like green pods that resemble miniature paper lanterns. What is even more magical is that inside each balloon are tiny black seeds imprinted with perfect white hearts. These vigorous growers will scramble up and over a trellis in no time. Woven into an arrangement, this beauty will take any creation to a whole new level.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 6 to 10 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 120 days
Plant spacing: 8 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in pots 8 to 10 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Love-in-a-puff is very sensitive to cold; wait until the weather has warmed to plant out. Provide a strong trellis or support for vines to climb.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest stems once they are covered in little green lanterns. It’s especially wilt prone, so cut during the coolest part of the day. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days.

Details

Description

Few things rival the delicate beauty of a fully blooming love-in-a-puff vine. The long, ferny-leaved vines are loaded with tiny white blossoms and the most interesting balloon-like green pods that resemble miniature paper lanterns. What is even more magical is that inside each balloon are tiny black seeds imprinted with perfect white hearts. These vigorous growers will scramble up and over a trellis in no time. Woven into an arrangement, this beauty will take any creation to a whole new level.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 6 to 10 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 120 days
Plant spacing: 8 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in pots 8 to 10 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Love-in-a-puff is very sensitive to cold; wait until the weather has warmed to plant out. Provide a strong trellis or support for vines to climb.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest stems once they are covered in little green lanterns. It’s especially wilt prone, so cut during the coolest part of the day. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days.

Sources

How to Grow

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