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Hairy Balloonplant
Insignificant white flowers are followed by spectacular light greenish-yellow inflated pods surrounding the seeds on this nonhardy perennial from South Africa. At maturity, the pods are blown about by the wind and, after a period of time, begin to disintegrate, releasing the seeds. Plant this perennial (after soils have warmed in early summer) in full sun and average soil, and avoid pesticides to protect the Monarch butterfly larvae that may be feeding on the leaves. The pods are a great conversation topic in the garden and can also be harvested and dried for indoor arrangements. All parts of the plant are poisonous.