Botanical Description:
Asclepias physocarpa, commonly known as the Balloon Plant or Hairy Balls Milkweed, stands out with its unique balloon-like seed pods, covered in soft spines, giving it its whimsical name.
The plant can grow up to 6 feet tall, adorned with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Small, fragrant white flowers with a tinge of pink appear in clusters, later giving way to the distinctive inflated seed pods.
20 Hairy Balls Milkweed Seeds (Asclepias physocarpa) for U.S. & Mexico
Thriving as a perennial in Zones 8–11, Hairy Balls Milkweed (Asclepias physocarpa) reach an impressive height of 32–72″. Also recognized as swan plant, swan milkweed, and, of course, balloon plant, this is a must-have addition to your butterfly garden. More than 20 seeds. Southern US & Northern Mexico.
Benefit to Monarch Butterflies:
Like other milkweeds, the Balloon Plant is a magnet for Monarch butterflies. It serves as a crucial host plant, providing a place for female Monarchs to lay their eggs. Once the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the plant’s leaves, ingesting compounds that make them unpalatable to predators.