I Will Call This a Balloon Plant

@CarolDM (203449)

Nashville, Tennessee

August 6, 2021 11:34am CST

Saw this unusual plant at the park yesterday. It had tiny white flowers with these funny looking round "pods". The butterflies were flying around but I could not figure out what this plant was called. So I researched when I got home. Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly known as hairy balls, balloon plant, balloon cotton-bush, bishop's balls, nailhead, or swan plant, is a species of milkweed. That explains why the butterflies visited, they lay eggs on milkweed. And now you know. Another interesting plant identified. Seems like every day I am learning something new from nature. Photo is mine. I choose to call this a balloon plant.

26 people like this

24 responses

@cahaya1983 (11120)

• Malaysia

6 Aug 21

Very interesting! Reminds me of a local fruit we have here, rambutan before it ripens.

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@cahaya1983 (11120)

• Malaysia

6 Aug 21

@CarolDM Yes they do look smaller. I learned a new plant species from this post!

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

This is much smaller I believe.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

@cahaya1983 Good to hear, I learned as well.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (308536)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

6 Aug 21

That's an interesting-looking plant. I'm glad you found out the name.

2 people like this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

Thanks! Always glad to know of a new milkweed plant.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (308536)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

6 Aug 21

@CarolDM The milkweed is probably the only plant I'm most familiar with. We had them all over the farm when I was a kid.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

@just4him There are so many different kinds as well.

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@RebeccasFarm (86976)

• United States

6 Aug 21

Oh I remember those from when I was a child Carol

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@RebeccasFarm (86976)

• United States

6 Aug 21

@CarolDM I seem to recall seeing these in the Ozarks

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

How cool. I have not seen one before.

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@LadyDuck (460346)

• Switzerland

7 Aug 21

We also call it balloon plant (pianta palloncino in Italian). It is an interesting plant.

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@LadyDuck (460346)

• Switzerland

8 Aug 21

@CarolDM It is pretty, I do not even know how the flowers look.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

Glad you know about this one. I was amazed.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

8 Aug 21

@LadyDuck They are tiny white flowers, you can barely see them in this photo.

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@moffittjc (118795)

• Gainesville, Florida

7 Aug 21

That's a new one to me. I've never seen a milkweed plant that looks like this! It's pretty cool when you discover something new out on your adventures!

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@moffittjc (118795)

• Gainesville, Florida

7 Aug 21

@CarolDM I saw a bird yesterday in my backyard that I have never seen before. It was a bigger one, almost the size of a chicken, and I rushed to get my phone to take a picture so I could look it over more thoroughly and try to research what it was. But it flew away before I could get back to take a picture. I love how nature always seems to surprise us!

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

@moffittjc Doves (besides hawks of course) are the largest bird I get and there are a lot here this year. Always something to learn in nature.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

I have not seen the one either. Was at the park. You never know what you will see. I enjoyed researching about it.

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@Andini (3211)

• Indonesia

6 Aug 21

Thats really interesting experience. Nature have many secrets that people still not see

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

I totally agree with you.

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@Andini (3211)

• Indonesia

6 Aug 21

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (171153)

• United States

7 Aug 21

That is an odd looking plant.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

But the butterflies lay their eggs here, it is milkweed. Strange for sure.

@sjvg1976 (41132)

• Delhi, India

7 Aug 21

It seems to be scientific name of the plant. Did you know it or searched it somewhere?

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

As I said above, I researched after seeing it at the park.

@JESSY3236 (19057)

• United States

10 Aug 21

cool.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

10 Aug 21

I agree.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326601)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Aug 21

When I saw the photo, I was thinking it was cotton-bush. It was a notifiable weed in our old locality but in other areas, it is encouraged as a great plant for encouraging/nuturing butterflies. The sap can bring up a rash on some people.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

I looked your cotton bush up and they do look very similar. These pods are filled with seeds.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (158447)

• United States

7 Aug 21

I much prefer your name as well! :-) We can always learn something from you.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

Sound such better. Thanks! I enjoy learning about nature as you know.

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54407)

• United States

7 Aug 21

I dub thee balloon plant - i can see you running around the park in camo and a sword, dubbing plants!

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

This name sounded better than the others and these pods are full of seed. Amazing. I may have to get one.

@Laurakemunto (12862)

• Kenya

6 Aug 21

Nature is so interesting

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

I totally agree with you.

1 person likes this

@Laurakemunto (12862)

• Kenya

6 Aug 21

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@Honeymeii (25)

•

7 Aug 21

I havent see that one before thanks for share the pic

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

You are welcome.

@rebelann (111416)

• El Paso, Texas

6 Aug 21

What a kool plant. I know we don't have those around here.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

I thought so too. A first for me once again.

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@Juliaacv (48633)

• Canada

6 Aug 21

Its quite a conversational looking plant, I like your name for it.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

Thanks. I love seeing different types of milkweed for butterflies.

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@marlina (154165)

• Canada

6 Aug 21

good choice! Nature is full of wonderfulness

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

I thought so too. And I agree about nature.

@wolfgirl569 (96390)

• Marion, Ohio

7 Aug 21

We had something similar here that vined up. Thought it was a gourd plant when it first grew.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

These get pretty tall. Thought about getting one.

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@Dena91 (15934)

• United States

7 Aug 21

I like the balloon plant. Never heard of it before. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

7 Aug 21

You are welcome, you know I enjoy researching about new things in nature.

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@asianlady (2697)

• Ireland

6 Aug 21

If only the fruit is red, it's like rambutan in the Philippines.

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@CarolDM (203449)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Aug 21

These are filled with seeds to repaint.

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