Adored … When properly cared for, most varieties of balloon flowers will grow to be about two feet tall and about one foot wide, though dwarf varieties tend to be about half that size. The balloon flower, also known as platycydon grandiflorus, is a native plant to Northeast Asia. Propagating by division is generally not recommended for balloon flowers because the root system is fragile and doesn't like being disturbed. To achieve stockier plants, you can cut back tall stems by about half in the late spring. However, you also can plant them later in the growing season (spring to fall), though you might not get blooms until their second year.Â. They won’t need a lot of supplemental watering unless you have a long period without rainfall that causes the soil to dry out. It's the bud, which puffs up and bursts open into a flower, that gives the plant its common name of balloon flower. Water plants … Foliage is oval … 49. In fall, the foliage of … Balloon flower does best in full sun but some afternoon shade in the hottest zones is also preferable since it prefers cooler summer temperatures. Use a rooting hormone on the bare stem if you wish, and then pot it in moist soil. (Balloon Flower) Add a splash of white to your garden by day or a shining glow of white by night. A perennial for borders, beds, rock gardens, and for fresh cut flower use. These flower buds open to reveal blue, pink or white star-shaped blossoms throughout the summer. The balloon flower is a hardy plant that is able to grow in both dry climates as well as cold climates. The buds and flowers are colored pink, blue, or white … Balloon flowers are clump-forming plants that rarely exceed 0.8 metres (2.5 feet) in height. 3.7 out of 5 stars 21. Most commonly available in blue-violet, balloon flowers also come in pink and white, as well as shorter forms that are better suited for rock gardens and containers. Overall, balloon flowers are fairly low-maintenance plants and are quite pest- and disease-resistant. 2.9 out of 5 stars 9. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. Balloon flowers are clump-forming perennials with alternate leaves of light green on stems that usually grow between one and three feet tall. Balloon flowers are hardy and do well in USDA growing zones 3 to 8. The remaining buds on the stem will continue to open. The slender, single-stemmed trunk has multiple hollow, pale yellowish green … Once established, balloon flowers like a moderate amount of moisture in the soil, but they can tolerate short periods of drought. Growing balloon flowers with children can be quite fun. Balloon Plants for Caterpillars. Plant … The plant comes in colors from white to red, and by practicing dead heading the flowers, you can prolong the flowering period of this plant. Instead, you can propagate by taking stem cuttings. Also, deadheading your plants (removing spent blooms) will keep them looking good and repeatedly blooming. After the weather has warmed, you can transplant your seedlings outdoors. The taller varieties of balloon flowers can become a bit floppy. It was an important medicinal and … Use clean pruners to trim approximately a 4-inch length of stem, and remove the lower half of foliage to expose the bare stem. You can stake them or plant them in clumps to let them support one another. They bear two- to three-inch balloon-shaped buds … Colours and shapes Balloon flower (officially called Platycodon) is a radiant plant with large flowers which look remarkably like cheerful balloons when they’re in bud. Balloon flowers … A dwarf form perfect for containers or rock gardens. Platycodon grand. The blooms are followed by round, balloon-like fruit covered with small bristles. Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) earned its common name with its unusual, balloon-shaped flower buds, which pop open to reveal star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, blue, … You can start with nursery plants or grow your balloon flowers from seed. Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are part of the easy-to-grow bellflower family. Sku #6263. This medium-height selection is great for the border, or in mixed containers. They don’t grow well in dense soil, such as clay. Don't remove the whole stem, just the faded flowers. This can help to prevent the plants from flopping over. Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Valleybrook International Ventures Inc. Their ideal temperature range is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can withstand higher temperatures if they have some shade in the afternoon. In colder areas, balloon flower dies back to the ground in the winter. Balloon flower is a charming, easy care perennial that delights with its balloon shaped buds that burst open into lovely star shaped flowers. Balloon flowers typically don't need supplemental feeding if you have rich soil. Blue balloon flowers look lovely with the pale yellows of lilies and yarrow. Plant nursery balloon flowers in your garden in the early spring after the threat of frost has passed. Furthermore, balloon flowers are fairly tolerant of humidity, along with dry conditions, as long as they have the right amount of soil moisture. Astra White Balloon Flower will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 14 inches. These plants form clumps on the ground, so they can also serve well as ground cover in flower beds. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower, 1 to 2.5 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide, Rich, loamy, medium moisture, well-draining. ... balloon flower plant balloon flower … Plants form a mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds that open into star-shaped … If you plant seeds directly in your garden, do so after your last frost date and know they likely won't flower in their first year. You will get the most flowers if you plant balloon flowers in full sun (at least six hours of sunlight on most days). The plant is a hardy perennial that has stalks that reach 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) in height. Platycodon flowers in the summer with white, blue, or purple bell shaped flowers. Use it in garden beds and borders, as well in containers. Because they come up very late in the spring, consider planting tulips or daffodils beside the clump to mark the location. Balloon plant is an upright, herbaceous plant or soft shrub that can grow over 6 feet tall from the fibrous roots. Keep the soil moist (but not soggy) as you wait for roots to take hold. It's deer and rabbit resistant and tolerates drought. They should bloom during that season. This selection forms a compact mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds that open into star-shaped single white … Kids are fascinated by these plants and will typically pop them for sport by squeezing the sides, making them burst open with a soft, popping sound. Balloon plant milkweed is a unique, vase-shaped shrub that produces light green, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of small, waxy flowers that show up in summer. The inflated flower buds open to form flaring bell-shaped flowers with five lobes. Plants form a mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds that open into star-shaped white blossoms. Balloon flower which is … Get it as soon as Thu, Oct 1. There are several varieties of balloon flowers, including: Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener. Once you see leaf growth and feel resistance when you give the cutting a gentle tug, you’ll know roots have grown. Especially good for cutting. If you have poor soil, use an all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer in the early spring. Balloon flowers get their name from the unopened buds, which swell up prior to opening and resemble little hot-air balloons. The Platycodon contains one species, and this is commonly grown in the garden; it goes by the common names of Balloon Flower or Bellflower. Pruning generally isn't necessary and more for appearance. Plants are compact and clump-forming from 2 feet tall to 12 inches wide. Division is seldom necessary, and not always very successful because of the carrot-like root. Jen Giordano Jen Giordano White Balloon Flower. The interesting balloon-like buds burst open into bell-shaped double flowers. Keep the soil of young plants consistently moist but not soggy. ‘Astra Semi-double Blue’, Platycodon grand. Start seed indoors in the early spring about six to eight weeks prior to your area's projected last frost date. Balloon flowers prefer organically rich, loamy soil that has good drainage. Good quality balloon flower root is thick and white with a bitter taste. The showy balloon-like buds swell to burst open as 2-3 inch, bowl-shaped flowers with pointed petals. Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower: Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial: Mature Size: 1 to 2.5 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide: Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade: Soil Type: Rich, loamy, medium moisture, well-draining: Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5: Bloom Time: Summer: Flower Color: Blue-violet, white, … These lavender-blue to white flowers … Balloon Flower (Platycodon Grandiflorus White) - Platycodon Grandiflorus, usually referred to as Balloon Flower, is a perennial flower that can be grown from flower seeds. Resembling bellflowers (Campanula), they open from large, plump, balloon … However, they will be fine in partial shade and might actually prefer some shade from especially hot afternoon sun. Plus, they like a soil pH in the 5.5 to 7.5 range. Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra White'. Balloon flowers are tropical perennial plants that can reach between 1 and 2.5 feet (30.4-76.2 cm) in height and 1 and 1.5 feet (30.4-45.7 cm) in width. Balloon Flowers are summer-blooming cousins to the more familiar Bellflowers. Frost can kill young plants and will cause established plants to die back into the ground in the fall. Balloon flower gets its name from its balloon like buds that open to form flaring bell-shaped flowers with five lobes. When they open they’re transformed … Unique puffy balloon-shaped flower buds open to reveal beautiful white star-shaped blooms. Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Fuji White’. Balloon Flowers are summer-blooming cousins to the more familiar Bellflowers. Widely popular among gardeners, Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) is a compact herbaceous perennial with bell-shaped, flaring, violet-blue flowers, up to 2-3 in. The seeds occur in a seed pot with five valves that open from the head, and the leaves are unstalked, becoming narrower as they proceed upwards. Balloon flower, Platycodon grandiflorus, is a native of the Russian Far East, China, Japan, and Korea that has become a garden sensation in the United States. Typically, they can be found in growing zones three through nine, which covers the majority of the United States. Pink and white balloon flowers pair nicely with ornamental grasses and spiky plants like celosia, liatris and yucca. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Platycodon Astra Semi Double White is a wonderful new dwarf variety of Balloon Flower! Then, the plant is ready to be transplanted into the garden. Balloon flower may be viewed by many as a beautiful ornamental plant, but the plant has actually been used for its health benefits in parts of Asia for many centuries. Astra Platycodons are a new series that form compact, well branched plants. It is a perennial plant that can live for yea… FREE Shipping. Flowers appear in early summer, to late autumn, as rounded, balloon … It’s often one of the later flowers to emerge in the spring, so when growing balloon flower you may want to mark the spot somehow so you don’t plant … Fragrant Flower Mix Seeds. Perennial balloon flowers earn their name from their large, balloon-like flower buds. Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is one of those fun plants to grow in the garden with kids. While they are sometimes commonly referred to as bellflowers, their flower is really more of a star shape and about 2 to 3 inches wide in shades of blue-violet, white, and pink. Outsidepride Balloon Flower White Platycodon Grandiflorus Plant Seed - 1000 Seeds. The plant will begin blooming during late July or early Au… ‘Astra Semi-double Pink’, Platycodon grandiflorus double blue selection, Alphabetical list of all 4,000+ perennials here. The flowers have five lobes that have a thick rubbery texture and are arranged in the shape of a star around another star-shaped filament arrangement. It's a must-have for your butterfly and hummingbird gardens! When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately … 99. These small plants grow either solo or in clusters and feature short, blue-green leaves. … $10.99 $ 10. These perennials will come back year after year in the garden and will self-sow their seed, though they aren't aggressive spreaders. Their foliage is thick, oval or lance … Balloon plant … Balloon plant flowers are pink, blue or white and will begin to bloom by mid-summer and continue into the fall, particularly and prolifically if you deadhead spent blooms and do not allow the plant to develop … Balloon Flowers are summer-blooming cousins to the more familiar Bellflowers. Hardy Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum) Plant Profile, 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden, A Cut Flower Garden of Perennial Favorites. They ideally should be planted in the spring and will generally grow quickly to bloom in their first year. Balloon Flower The Balloon Flower also goes by the … About the Balloon Flower Classic balloon flowers produce 2-3" wide, periwinkle blue, white and pink, saucer shaped flowers that begin as balloon shaped buds that "pop" when squeezed. The balloon flower is a perennial which can be grown in all zones, but is considered hardy in zones 3 through 8. across (5-7 cm), adorned with 5 broad, pointed lobes that form a star shape. $6.49 $ 6. But a layer of compost in the fall can help them replenish the energy they expended blooming during the growing season. A member of the Campanulaceae … The majority of the carrot-like root bear two- to three-inch balloon-shaped buds … balloon flower is... 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