Alien Invasives

04 October 2016

Other names

Heart Pea, Heart Seed (English)
Blaasklimop, Opblaasboontjie (Afrikaans)
intandela, uzipho (isiZulu)

Invasive status

NEMBA Category 1b (Proposed)
CARA 2002 Category 1

Description

Balloon vine is a perennial, slightly woody climber that easily clambers up tall trees six metres or higher. It often drapes itself over entire mature trees. Stems are covered with bristly hairsand the bright green leaves are strongly serrated. From October to January the vines are covered in white or yellow, fragrant flowers followed by inflated fruit capsules which start green and eventually turn brown (not unlike the Cape Goosebery).

Originally from

Tropical South America (Brazil and eastern Argentina)

Where is it a problem?

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces. Often rampant along watercourses.

How does it spread?

Seed dispersal in huge numbers

Why is it a problem?

Grows over and smothers indigenous species, including large trees

Planting alternatives

Canary Creeper (Senecio tamoides), Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata), Traveller’s Joy (Clematis brachiata)

Uses

Originally brought in as a garden ornamental