Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
My balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is blooming! I love this little flower and it is one of my favourites in the gardens. Balloon flowers are perennials so once you plant them, you will be rewarded year after year with their beautiful flowers. A plus with balloon flowers is they require very little in the way of care; just water when the season is dry and apply a bit of slow release fertiliser in early spring. Balloon flowers are hardy zones 3 to 8.
The name balloon flower comes from the little balloon shape of the unopened flowers as you can see in the last photograph above. Balloon flowers are clump-forming perennials reaching a height between 30.5 cm to 90.5 cm (1-3 ft). Balloon flowers are slow to show above ground and one needs to be careful to remember where they are planted so one does not accidentally disturb them when adding to the flower beds. Plant in an area with moist well drain soil in full sun or partial shade. Balloon flowers are long blooming; just remove any spent flowers to help encourage new blooms. If you don't like the blue balloon flowers, there are also white and pink varieties.
1 comment
Wow, those are some nifty flowers! I’ve never seen anything bloom like that! Beautiful! This post has 1 feedback awaiting moderation...