Balloon vine, Cardiospermum grandiflorum
This climber occurs naturally in tropical South America but in South Africa it is highly invasive along forest margins, riparian zones (banks of watercourses) and urban open spaces particularly along the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal. It is classified as NEMBA Cat 1b, which means that is must be controlled and wherever possible, removed and destroyed
Its climbing tendrils grow 3-5m or higher, forming dense infestations that smother indigenous plants and trees. The leaves are toothed, bright green and thin textured and small white flowers occur between October and January.
The fruit are easily recognisable, consisting of a roughly spherical, balloon-like, thin-walled capsule about 60mm long, green turning brown, which contains several large black seeds that are dispersed by wind or water.
To eradicate this vine: Small plants can be hand pulled. Tendrils that are creeping along the ground can be spot sprayed using a suitable broadleaf herbicide, taking care not to spray surrounding vegetation. If the plant has smothered a tree, cut off the tendrils fairly low to the ground thus causing the plant in the tree to die and then spray the growth under the tree with a suitable broadleaf herbicide.
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