Platycodon Grandiflorius - (Balloon Flower)
Platycodon Grandiflorius (Balloon Flower): Unusual Balloon shaped flower buds. Easy to grow, long-lasting plant that likes full sun.
| Platycodon Grandiflorius | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Midsummer |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Water | Light, Well Drained Garden Soil |
| Diseases | Root Rot |
| Pests | Slugs and Snails |
| Propagation | Seed |
| Color | White, Blue, Pink, Purple |
| Zones | 3 - 8 |
| Features | Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Cut Flowers, Dried Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Easy to Grow |
Platycodon Grandiflorius - White Balloon Flower: Great for the sunny border or for cutting! Big White "Balloons" on Tall, Ultra-Hardy Plants! 25- to 30-inch plants bloom in summer.
Cheery white stars all summer long are gorgeous in the garden or vase! This exceptionally tall variety reaches 25 to 30 inches in the garden, with blooms on long, elegant stems. A great choice for cut flowers, it contrasts nicely with the blues of most Balloon Flowers.
Platycodon Grandiflorius get their name from the balloon type flower buds that they develop, just before they open up. which look like small balloons.
In full bloom the plant resemble the Bell Flower (Campanula), with deep purple to pink or lavender flowers about 2 inches across.
This is an excellent border plant.It grows 1 to 2 feet tall, is long-lived, easy to care for and no at all invasive.
Platycodon Grandiflorius are often one of the last plants to send up shoots in the spring, so it is a good idea to mark the location of your plants by late fall, so you won't accidentally plant or till the area where the Platycodon is resting.
Platycodon Grandiflorius have a long tap root, which makes them extremely difficult to divide or even move. When you plant them, try to make this a permanent spot for the perennial.
This plant will greatly benefit from a thick mulch covering.
Remove faded flowers for best reblooming.
The blooms make good cut flowers but will last much longer if you sing the stems with a match before placing them in water.
Sow seeds in springs. To get a head start, plant seeds indoors in a well-lighted area about 8 weeks before last expected heavy spring frost. Can also propagate by division in early summer.
Be aware that this plant is difficult to divide and propagation by seed is much more successful.
Double Blue Balloon Flower:Lovely, double-flowered version of the longtime favorite. Great for the front of the border or for cutting! This Floriferous Dwarf has 3-inch Blooms on 20-inch Plants! Flowers are rich blue with darker blue veining.
Double Blue does not disappoint--its star-shaped rich blue blooms have a darker veining and fresh green foliage that remains attractive even when not in bloom. Ideal for the front of the border, it is also very heat-tolerant, extending its bloom through the dog days of summer!
Grows best in full sun or partial shade. I find that they thrive much better if given a sunny location.
Stems may need support in the early stages. Platycodon works well in rock garden or along a border.
The flowers are suitable for cutting.
Established plants don't tolerate disturbance.
Bright flowers attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Makes a colorful display along walkways or in rock gardens, planted with gray or burgundy foliages and pastel flowers.
Sedum:
In the bud stage the green broccoli-like heads of Autumn Joy sedum play off well against the open, brilliant violet blue flowers of balloon flower in sun.
Helenium:
Helenium's golden daisies make a dramatic contrast with open-faced balloon flower in full sun.
Stella D'Oro daylily:
Stella D'Oro daylily has golden trumpets on 1-foot plants and repeat blooms into fall. It is a fine companion for balloon flower.
Coreopsis:
The fine foliage and pale lemon daisies of Moonbeam coreopsis show off well with balloon flower. They enjoy similar conditions.
Shasta Daisy:
Beautiful daisy flowers are great for summer bouquets. Also attractive in butterfly gardens or combined with other perennials such as iris, poppy, daylily or yarrow. Remove faded flowers down to the next visible bud to promote rebloom.
Platycodon Grandiflorius - 'Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower': These balloon-shaped flowering plants are very easy to grow! Some varieties may need staking for support.
Medium height plants produce sizeable blooms that start out as puffy buds that then open up into large flat five-petaled flowers. The most common color is a nice mid-blue, but there are also varieties with pink, rose or white blooms. Once established, Platycodon blooms early to mid-summer.
-
Organic Balloon Flower: Known in Chinese medicine as Jie-Geng, these mid-to-late summer, vibrant, star-shaped, blue-violet blooms have traditionally been used to treat sore throats, coughs, bronchitis, chest pain, and tonsillitis. Easy to grow and care for. Zones 3-9.
-
Double Blue Platycodon Grandiflorius: Lovely, double-flowered version of the longtime favorite. Great for the front of the border or for cutting! This Floriferous Dwarf has 3-inch Blooms on 20-inch Plants!
-
'Florist Pink' Platycodon Grandiflorius: Long-lived, low maintenance plants with a clump forming habit and blue-green foliage. Large 5-lobed, terminal flowers with inflated buds. Pink Flowers.
-
'Double White' Platycodon Grandiflorius: Long-lived, low maintenance plants with a clump forming habit & blue-green foliage. Large 5-lobed, terminal flowers with inflated buds. White, semi-double flowers.
Party Popper Platycodon Grandiflorius: How about something rather different and very special for summer beds and patio pots! The intriguing balloon-like buds open to reveal star shaped flowers in white, blue and a rare pink.
They are low enough to make perfect edging plants too. Many people grow this wonderful plant as an annual. We have been successful in overwintering it in zone 5 as a perennial. Grows 6" tall.
-
Double Lavender Platycodon Grandiflorius: Lovely, double-flowered version of the longtime favorite. Great for the front of the border or for cutting! Ideal for the front of the border, it is also very heat-tolerant, extending its bloom through the dog days of summer!
-
Platycodon Grandiflorius 'MARIESII' Glossy foliage, electric blue star shaped flowers.
One Gallon pot.
Astra Pink' Platycodon Grandiflorius: Plants have large, puffy buds, resembling balloon, that open to bell-shaped flowers. Exceptionally long bloom time during summer.
Plant in well-drained soil. Shorter, more compact pink with excellent branching, long lasting large pink flowers with thick petals.
- Astra Pink' Platycodon Grandiflorius: Plants have large, puffy buds, resembling balloon, that open to bell-shaped flowers. Exceptionally long bloom time during summer.
- Platycodon Grandiflorius - White Balloon Flower
: Great for the sunny border or for cutting! Big White "Balloons" on Tall, Ultra-Hardy Plants! 25- to 30-inch plants bloom in summer.
Spacing: Space 16" - 18" apart when planting
Fertilizer: Use Osmocote Fertilizer and spread over surface of the ground once every 6 months. Use about 1/2 to 1 small handful, depending on size of plants.
Water/Soil Requirements: Water weekly during dry spells.
Bare Root Plants: How to plant bare root plants
Buying Plants OnLine: How to purchase plants on the Internet:
Perennial Flower Beds: Learn all of the secrets to planting the perfect perennial bed
Dividing Perennials: How to divide perennials.
Dividing Plants: How to divide all sorts of garden plants.
Cutting Garden: How to grow a cutting garden.
Flower Bed Care: Keep your flower borders looking like a pro with our green tips.
