Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandiflorus. CAMPANULACEAE (LOBELIACEAE).
Planting and Growing Balloon Flower
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow balloon flower in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of balloon flower
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for balloon flower
- Season of bloom and planting time for balloon flower
- When, how deep, and where to plant balloon flower
- How to plant balloon flower
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of balloon flower
- Landscape and container uses of balloon flower
- Comments about balloon flower and its features
Growing Balloon Flower
Single species of long-lived, upright, bunching, deciduous perennial herbs, 18–30 in. (45–75 cm) tall. Smooth, green, oval, pointed, coarsely toothed leaves, 1–3 in. (25–75 mm) long, with blue green undersides, forming a circular, radiating base.
Dwarf cultivars available.
Bellflower, more than 300 species of the genus Campanula, are closely related to balloon flower. See Bellflower, Campanula species, and Willow Bellflower, Platycodon grandiflorus, both with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, deep to pale blue, pink, white, single-petaled, bellflower-like, cup-shaped or 5-pointed-star-shaped, open flowers, 2–3 in. (50–75 mm) wide, in clusters on slender branching stalks, in summer–early autumn.
Balloon flower derives its common name from its developing—rather than mature—flowers: They bear globe-shaped upright buds that closely resemble the shape and appearance of hot-air balloons.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 3–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 12–18 in. (30–45 cm) apart. Best in shade.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead spent flowers to promote new buds. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, fencelines in cottage, natural, shade, woodland gardens. Gopher, nematode and southern blight susceptible.