Balloon flowers, part of the bellflower family, are a popular plant that can grow up to two feet tall and one foot wide when properly cared for. They begin as puffy, balloon-like buds and can be moved easily if needed. To propagate balloon flowers, take a heel cutting in late spring when the new stems are about 2 to 4 inches long. Balloon flowers typically grow to about 1 – 2 1/2 ft. tall, by about a foot. to 18 inches wide. Dwarf varieties won’t grow much taller than 1 foot high.
To grow and care for balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus), follow these general guidelines:
- Plant in full sun for best blooms.
- Use rich, well-draining soil.
- Keep the soil moderately moist but not soggy and supplement waterings during dry spells.
- Trim the stems back a little in spring to prevent them from flopping.
- Plant in late fall or winter.
- Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade, ideally getting at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Blue’ bears large blue flowers on compact plants in late summer, growing 8 inches tall and wide. It grows in neat clumps, up to 60 centimeters high with alternate oval leaves about five centimeters long.
Balloon flowers typically reach a height of about 1 to 2.5 feet and a width of approximately 1 to 1.5 feet when fully grown. White flowers bloom throughout summer, singly or in small clusters, atop stems typically growing to 30 inches tall.
📹 Platycodon Sentimental Blue’ (Balloon Flower)🎈// POPULAR and LONG BLOOMING
This video highlights the “Sentimental Blue” variety of Platycodon, a hardy perennial known for its unique balloon-shaped flowers. The video discusses the plant’s characteristics, including its compact size, long bloom period, and resistance to pests and diseases. It also provides tips on planting and care, emphasizing the importance of choosing healthy plants and avoiding disturbance.
How do you get balloon flowers to bloom?
Balloon flowers are easy-to-grow perennials with puffy, balloon-like buds that swell up to produce star-shaped blue-violet flowers. They thrive in any condition, except in hot environments, and prefer rich soil, full sun, and temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To care for balloon flowers, plant them in full sun, use rich, well-draining soil, keep the soil moderately moist but not soggy, and supplement waterings during dry spells. If balloon flowers become floppy, stake them in clumps to prevent further damage.
How tall are balloon flowers?
Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) is a popular herbaceous perennial with bell-shaped, flaring violet-blue flowers that can grow up to 2-3 inches across. These flowers, resembling bellflowers, open from large, plump, balloon-like buds that almost beg to be popped. They bloom throughout summer, held singly or in small clusters atop upright, branched, leafy stems. The foliage of lance-shaped, blue-green leaves is sharply serrate and often turns dark purple or a mix of light purple and yellow in fall.
Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, Balloon Flower is adaptable, long-lived, and easy of care. It grows up to 12-30 inches tall (30-75 cm) and 12-18 inches wide (30-45 cm). It performs best in full sun or part shade, in light, fertile, loamy, reliably moist but well-drained soils.
Deadheading spent flowers to prolong the bloom season and cutting back to the base in fall is recommended. The stems emerge late in the spring and may be accidentally disturbed by impatient gardeners. Propagate by seed in pots or in situ in spring, as this plant resents disturbance.
Native to China, Japan, Korea, and Siberia, the description of these plants is based on numerous outside resources.
Should I cut back balloon flowers?
Balloon flower care involves pruning to promote healthy growth. Trim dead flowers and moldy stems in early spring or summer, and remove any dying or diseased foliage. Protect goods and materials during storage or shipment with high-quality pallet covers. Pruning encourages a bushier plant, creating a pleasing shape and longer-lasting blooms. Avoid pruning long stems that cause the plant to flop over, as this could harm other plants and limit balloon flower viability.
Do balloon flowers need sun or shade?
To guarantee optimal floral production, it is essential to situate the seedlings or starter plants in a location within the garden that receives a minimum of eight hours of sunlight per day. Balloon flowers flourish in soil with well-defined drainage characteristics and a loamy composition, exhibiting a slight acidic pH range. They can also tolerate partial shade.
When should I transplant balloon flowers?
The optimal time for transplanting balloon flowers is from late spring to late summer, as this period offers optimal growing conditions, allowing for the greatest potential for successful transplantation.
How to make a balloon flower bushy?
To encourage branching and bushy growth in balloon flower plants, cut their branches by half in spring and deadhead spent flowers during the blooming season. Plant them in containers deep enough to accommodate their long taproot, at least 2 inches wider than the plant’s expected size, and ensure good drainage. Balloon flower plants don’t like being transplanted, so wait until the plant is actively growing before repotting. Place the plant in a new pot 2 inches larger than its current container, filling it with fresh potting mix, and water thoroughly to settle the plant into its new home.
How do balloon flowers multiply?
Balloon flower propagation can be achieved through three methods: collecting seed from a mature plant in the fall, stem cuttings, and by division. Seed propagation is a simple process, while stem cuttings are less challenging but have a high failure rate due to potential root damage. After a bloom dies, remove the brown pod at the end of the stem and cut it off, releasing hundreds of tiny seeds. In spring, dig compost into a garden bed in full sun to part sun, sprinkle seeds on top, and water them until they germinate. If starting indoors, sow six to eight weeks before the last spring frost and transplant them when the weather warms.
In spring, take 4-inch cuttings from soft stem tips, remove foliage, dip the bottom end in rooting hormone, and plant them in individual pots filled with a sterile planting mix or seed-starting medium. Cover each pot with a clear plastic bag and place them in a bright light location, keeping the soil moist but not soggy until the cuttings root. Transplant the rooted plants to the garden, being careful not to disturb the roots.
How high do balloons go?
A helium balloon can ascend to a considerable altitude within the Earth’s atmosphere; however, it is unable to reach the outer reaches of space due to the comparatively low density of the atmosphere at these altitudes. The balloon can only ascend to a point where the weight of the surrounding atmosphere is equal to that of the helium, which occurs at an altitude of approximately 20 miles above Earth’s surface. The boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space is approximately 600 miles above the surface of the planet.
What is a fun fact about balloon flower?
Balloon flowers are clump-forming plants that rarely exceed 0. 8 meters in height. The flowers are flaring and bell-shaped, with five lobes, a thick, rubbery texture, and a diameter of 5 to 7 cm. The plant produces seeds in a five-valved seed pod, and its leaves are oval and unstalked, narrowing towards the apex of the stem. The plant’s name is derived from the Latin word “balloon.”
How tall is the balloon?
The Ballon d’Or trophy, a gold-plated award, measures 31 centimeters in height and 23 centimeters in diameter, and weighs over seven kilograms. It has undergone several changes since its first award in 1956, with the current version being the same since 1983. The older version is smaller and more bling-free, while the Women’s Ballon d’Or (Ballon d’or Feminin) has remained the same since its first edition in 2018. The trophy’s dimensions and weight have remained consistent since its inception in 2018.
Can you grow balloon flowers in pots from cuttings?
After new growth and leaves appear, transplant cuttings into pots or gardens. Avoid damaging root growth during transplanting to avoid establishing issues. Water well after transplanting. Plant seeds or seedlings in early spring after the ground has warmed. Enrich the soil with organic matter like compost to loosen it and improve nutrients. Space plants around 20 inches apart, with smaller varieties closer together and larger ones needing more room. Use the label for the mature plant’s size as a spacing guide.
📹 Gardening Tips & Flowers : How to Grow Balloon Flower (Platycodon Grandiflorum)
The balloon flower, or platycodon grandiflorum, has balloon-shaped flowers up and down the plant’s stems. Start growing a …
Interestingly enough they are also found wild as far South as Hong Kong where it is a protected species. Here it grows in full sun on mountain slopes. This is it’s Southern most extreme where it is found as a native in Asia. No where in Hong Kong is there no high humidity and heat and heavy summer rainfall, even at altitude, so worth trying even in Southern Florida. It looks delicate and temeprate but can take full on wet subtropics, it’s the only Campanulacea that can, adding a much cherished true blue to humid warm gardens. Good drainage is essential with high rainfall, although it doesnt like drying out completely except in winter. It doesnt like standing in wet conditions either………..without enough sun it tends to flop, not a problem if you dont mind it popping up its blue head here and there between other plants which it also does happily and effectively, but it’s not a shade loving plant. Poor moist soils lacking nutrients in full sun make for sturdier plants so dont over feed. A very mediteranian looking plant however It doesn’t like dry med conditions at all, dry heat is not it’s thing.