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.
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.