The Snoddy garden is hosting a hummingbird competition that looks like a fusion of Ben Hur and olympian gymnastics. These tiny birds dive bomb each other in a demonstration of jealous rage as they compete over a gangly, strange-looking plant commonly known as Fuzzy Balls, Hairy Balls, or Balloon plant. It is a form of milkweed, formerly known as Asclepias physocarpa, renamed to Gomphocarpus physocarpa (pronounced gom-fo-KAR-pus fy-so-KAR-puh). Fuzzy Balls plant has clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers with a pleasant fragrance. The blooms are easily overlooked. The golf ball-size seed pods, however, draw a lot of attention. They are light green to yellow, with dark hairs.
Fuzzy Balls are grown as annuals, but may overwinter in zones 8 and 9, especially in a mild winter. They need full sun to rise to their potential, and are both heat- and drought-tolerant once established. Mature plants can reach six feet in height and are prone to being flattened by summer thunderstorms, so pinch them back several times in early spring to keep plants shorter and create stronger stems. I use a tomato cage around mine for extra insurance. Planting a group of several seedlings close to each other allows for easier caging or staking of the mature plants.
Stems with seed pods can be cut for inclusion into flower arrangements. Their unusual appearance is certain to inspire comments. Cut stems will last a long time in the vase, but seed capsules will rupture once they are completely dry. Left to mature on the plant, ripe seed pods will burst open. Each balloon will have numerous seeds and each of those seeds will have a silken hair attached, for ease of wind dispersal. I have read that these plants can be invasive in the parts of the deep south, but I have not seen this in zones 7-8.
Plants contain a milky sap that may irritate sensitive skins. They are moderately resistant to browsing by deer. Like other milkweeds, they attract butterflies, including Monarchs.
This speedy girl spent many minutes sipping from Fuzzy Ball flowers.
Ripening seed pods. You can see the reason for the common names, Fuzzy Balls or Balloon Plant.