PLATYCODON GRANDIFLORUS
Balloon flower, or Platycodon grandiflorus, is a native of the Russian Far East, China, Japan, and Korea that has become a garden sensation in the United States.
A member of the Campanulaceae family that includes bellflower and lobelia, its common name derives from puffy, balloon-like buds that burst open into starry blossoms.
The best part is that in addition to white, it comes in shades of blue, which is a rare treat in nature.
And while P. grandiflorus is not a native blue flower, its hardy, disease-resistant nature and vibrant perennial blossoms have made it a jewel of American gardens.
A Border Beauty
Also called Chinese bellflower, P. grandiflorus is the perfect plant for a sunny border garden, growing in clumps that fill in densely, often reaching over two feet in height.
It thrives in good, loamy soil that’s well-drained and moderately moist. Here, it establishes a sturdy root system, and seeds dropped at season’s end have every chance of successful germination the following spring.
I like to leave the withered end-of-summer plants for winter interest. Then, late in the next spring after other plants have begun to grow, P. grandiflorus begins to show signs of life. That’s when I prune away the decayed stalks of the previous year.
As summer wears on, and depending upon your energy level and the number of plants you have, you may deadhead to encourage blooming, and you may prune leggy plants for a more compact appearance.
In addition, you may want to consult our Complete Guide to Dividing Perennials if you decide to thin out your plants to make room for others, or to share with gardening friends.
P. grandiflorus likes to be left alone once in the ground, so be sure to approach its fleshy taproot with care.
Platycodon grandiflorus Plant Facts
- Average moisture
- Clumping perennial
- Easy to grow
- Full sun to part shade
- Grow from seeds or purchased plants
- Introduced species
- May reach over two feet in height
- Well-drained loamy soil
- Zones 3 to 8
Where to Buy
Astra Double balloon flower plants in 5-inch pots are available from Nature Hills Nursery.
Astra Double Blue Balloon Flower
Platycodon ‘Astra Double Blue’ is a hardy disease- and pest-resistant perennial that blooms all summer.
Family Favorite
P. grandiflorus may be sown from seed or plants at any time during the growing season.
If it doesn’t have time to bloom this year, look forward to it next spring.
Ask the kids to help you add this perennial gem to your outdoor space. It’s a great choice for gardening with children because it’s easy to grow, comes back year after year, and the inflated buds never cease to delight. It’s always been my son’s favorite.
Will you be planting P. grandiflorus in your garden this year? Tell us in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to Pin It!
Product photo via Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.
About Nan Schiller
Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania. Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. An advocate of organic gardening with native plants, she’s always got dirt under her nails and freckles on her nose. With wit and hopefully some wisdom, she shares what she’s learned and is always ready to dig into a new project!
Is it possible for me to have one indoors from year to year? Are there different techniques to enable flowering again after winter with an indoor potted Platycodon?
Hello, Erick – Thank you for your question. Most commercially available Platycodon grandiflorus varieties are intended to grow outdoors, where they spread by vigorous runners and often exceed two feet in height. If you want to grow one as a houseplant, look for a compact/dwarf variety. – Place your plant in a sunny location. – Keep the soil moist, but not dripping wet. And when you water, avoid the leaves and aim for the soil. – Pinch off and discard spent blossoms. – Ensure that your plant is in optimal condition for blooming by applying an all-purpose, slow-acting granular fertilizer.… Read more »
This beautiful flower popped up out of nowhere last summer in of all places my boxwood shrub! There are two adjoining plants this season, the taller one being 55 inches high! Has anyone heard of them growing this tall? They are definitively astra double blue balloon flowers (Platycodon grandifloris).
Wow, Mark! Some Astras top out at only 10 inches. I have read about some 47-inch Komachis. Maybe you have an amazing hybrid, or super-soil!
I have lots of photos if you’re interested!
My pictures are posted on Facebook.
Hi Mark –
You’re welcome to post one on the Gardener’s Path Facebook page to share with our readers.
I’m gonna try it. Saw them in nursery and gonna give a try. They were listed as a top 10 perinneal for clay soil on another site? Any insight
Hi Angela –
While balloon flower prefers rich loam, you might try adding a little humus or compost and some sand to your clay soil. Provided it drains well, you may get acceptable results.
When to plant?
Hello Helen –
Start balloon flower seeds indoors in early spring and transplant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, you may place plants directly into the garden in late spring or early summer. Seeds will need two years to produce flowers. Plants should bloom in the first year.
I’m transplanting these. We’ve moved to the woods near a lake in North central Texas, so I’m wondering if the deer are going to eat them. They’re very effortless, & I love the blue.
I’d love to have some white ones!
Hi Melva –
The deer usually leave balloon flower alone.
Love these and luck with them on my deck.
I was wondering about keeping mine in a pot larger than it came in. How do the ones on your deck do in pots?
Hi Vicki –
We’re glad you are enjoying balloon flower as a container plant on your deck. That’s a great way to keep it right where you want it.
I love my balloon flowers but once they are 12-15 inches, the plants don’t stand up. They can’t support the weight, I guess. Do I need to stake them?
Hi Denise –
You may stake balloon flowers that become leggy. You may also deadhead throughout the growing season, and prune entire stems for a more compact appearance. In addition, at the end of the growing season, or early next spring, you may prune old growth to make way for new, creating a more compact size from the start.
I have a blue ballon flower plant that has increased in size since I planted it three years ago. This year I am getting multiple flowers, but the stems all grow away from the center before turning up and so the plant itself does not look very pretty. Would this be because
the plant does not get afternoon sun?
Hi Cheryl –
You can cut balloon flowers back in early spring, before they start to grow again, to encourage a compact growth habit. If you don’t, they do tend to get leggy. Try staking them with twine and bamboo sticks, to hold them upright and create a neater appearance. Balloon flowers like full sun, but are very tolerant of partial shade, so the lack of afternoon sun shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for reading and best of luck with your gardening!
I read they do great with just afternoon sun. I planted 5 small plants last fall here in Colorado zone 5 on the west side of the house and though they were slow to make an appearance this Spring I just was rewarded with my first blossom.
Hi Susan-
Your flower is beautiful!
Balloon flower does best in full sun, but does tolerate part shade. In warm locales, it does best with afternoon shade, but in your location, where it’s cooler, it can take all the sun it can get. So glad to hear you’re having success!
I was fortunate to acquire some starts of the blue and also the white balloon flowers last year. They have done extremely well and I love how they add interest to my gardens.
Hi Cindi –
Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!
Will the Playtcodon send runners into the grass? Will it grow out of control? Do you need an area that can contain it?
Hi Kellie –
Platycodon has a long taproot and a spread of about two and one-half feet. Plant it in a bed where it has room to reach its full width, and prune it down in early spring each year to encourage compact growth. It does drop seeds that may take root, so allow ample room around it to accommodate this potential for additional growth.
I didn’t know the plant would spread before I planted mine almost four years ago. I’m going to transplant my balloon flowers into full sun this year. Do you have recommendations on how to transplant? Also, do you have recommendations on how to remove the additional growth from an unwanted spot? It jumped the bed and went into the grass (we just mow over it, but I would like to handle it properly).
Hello Emily – Balloon flower is not an easy plant to relocate, because it has a long taproot. If you want to give it a try, wait until spring, when the new shoots appear. Water it well, to help the soil cling to the roots. Dig straight down in a circle, at least six inches out from the center. Loosen the soil all around the plant. Gently slide your shovel underneath, and lift it out of the ground. Move the plant into a hole a few inches wider than the diameter of the mound you have removed. Water well. When… Read more »
My balloon flowers get over six foot tall and when they bloom they are so tall and heavy they end up lying on the ground. Is there a time I can prune them so they are shorter by the time they bloom?
Hi Jackie –
You may prune your plants to the ground in early spring, just before they begin to grow again. And if you’re in a warm zone, you can do this in late fall or early spring.
I just bought a house and I have saw where there are balloon flowers still in the pots. I’m just going to learn as I go how to take care of these flower gardens. lol. I wanted to know should I go ahead and plant these in the ground now or take them in and care for them and plant in ground different season. I also have elephant plants. I really don’t want these to get out of hand so I did cut them down and cleaned up last night.
Hi Sharon Rose –
Congratulations on your new house!
If your region hasn’t reached its first frost date, you may plant your balloon flowers.
Choose a location with full sun and rich soil that drains well. Water the plants and apply a layer of mulch around the base of each.
As for elephant ear plants, they are only hardy in zones 8 to 10. Elsewhere, you may dig them up, trim off the leaves, and store the tubers in a cool, dry location until the next growing season.
I’m a novice gardener. About 3 months ago I bought the balloon flower. It is in a 6” pot and had lots of blooms. I deadheaded spent blooms but now it’s not producing any blooms. After Reading your column I’m thinking that I need to put it in a larger pot so that the tap root can have more room. I’ve given bloom booster flower food and it get at least 6 hours of full sun daily. Is there something else I can do? Ruth
Hi Ruth –
Balloon flower is a summer bloomer. However, deadheading sometimes results in a fall re-bloom. It sounds like your plant is finished for the season. Look for new shoots in spring, followed by flowers in summer. There are dwarf varieties that reach about 8 inches, as well as standard size plants that may exceed two feet. As your plant grows, increase the size of the pot to two inches wider than the diameter of the plant, with ample depth for the taproot. And if you can put it into the ground, even better.
Hello, l planted the beautiful blue ones today, l can’t wait for their show to amaze me
Hello, i just planted platycodon today and I’ve never really planted flowers before, is platycodon a bad starter flower? Also I live where it’s cold and summers don’t get very warm, but I decided to keep it as an inside flower but I can put it on my balcony if that’s necessary. But i’m not really sure if my flower will succeed because I’m a starter at gardening but I hope it will! Also the seed packet said that the seed needed to stay at 20 C degrees, so I guess it can only stay by my window at day… Read more »
Hi Margret – Balloon flower is generally grown outdoors, as it spreads by vigorous runners and often exceeds two feet in height. However, dwarf varieties may be successfully cultivated indoors. Sprout your seeds per package instructions in a good quality potting medium. Use a container with good drainage holes that can accommodate the plant’s mature dimensions. Place the pot in a warm location with good sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, thin them out to avoid overcrowding, keeping only the strongest. If you find the days are warm… Read more »
I live in New Zealand & have 3 Platycondon plants that flowered beautifully over summer. We are now heading into Winter & my plants are not looking great. The leaves are turning yellow. Should I cut them back now or wait until our Spring in September? I’d appreciate some advice. Thank you. Cheryl
Hi Cheryl – It’s possible that your plants started to dry out at summer’s end. Leaves that feel brittle and look yellow may indicate dehydration. On the other hand, if they are soft, yellow, and wilted, they may be oversaturated. If you find they are too dry, water them well. If you didn’t cut the stems by half during the summer, and they are quite leggy, cut them back by half now. Add a layer of mulch to aid in keeping them warm over the winter. In spring, when the new sprouts appear, cut the old foliage to the ground.… Read more »
I bought a blooming plant. Can I cut the bloom stem off? They’re unsightly.
Hi Torri – Yes. After a blossom is finished, you may pinch it off to encourage more to bloom.
Could this plant work in a hanging basket?
Hi Sarah – It’s not the best choice for a hanging basket as the stems do not cascade. They are erect, although they may get leggy, especially if they are not pruned by one-half in mid-summer. Leggy stems flop over, but they don’t arch gracefully, as you would desire for a hanging plant.
My husband and I are new to gardening. Since he is recently retired, we thought we’d find a new hobby to enjoy. We went to a local big box store and purchased nine blue balloon flowers to plant as a border next to our carport. It definitely took some work. However, they are doing very well, thus far. We’re pleased. Side note: We have also started container gardening of husky grape tomatoes, zucchini, and carrots. We may have two green thumbs, after all!
They are growing beautifully!
I have purchased my first balloon plant. It has remained in the pot I purchased it in as I’ve prepared a new perennial garden spot. It has gotten very “leggy” and the 10 stems look like intermingled snakes! I’ve read all the comments and answers but I’m not sure of the timing of pruning in “early spring” or half way through the summer. Is there any way it would be okay to trim these back in mid May in southern NH? Also, how far back should they be pruned? Any help would be greatly appreciated.