Balloon flowers are great as cut flowers, and they’re fun to pop!
Most commonly available in blue-violet, balloon flowers also come in pink and white.
Shorter forms of the bloom are bettersuited for rock gardensand containers.
They tolerate light shade but not wet feet or drought.
Where to Plant Balloon Flower
Plant balloon flower plants in a sunny part of the garden.
You’ll get the most blooms when the plant receives at least eight hours of sun daily.
It will grow in part shade, but the number of blooms is substantially reduced.
Balloon flower adds thedesirable color blueto mixed beds, although white and pink cultivars are also available.
Plant them where they are easily accessible.
Either way, don’t cover the seeds; they require light to germinate.
Keep the soil or growing medium moist but not soggy.
Firm the soil around it and water the plant.
Light
Balloon flower plantsgrow best in full sun.
They will grow in partial shade and might benefit from shade in the afternoon in hot climates.
Once established, balloon flower will usually succeed without extra irrigation; rainfall is normally sufficient.
Water regularly, about an inch per week, during the plant’s first year in your garden.
Temperature and Humidity
A temperature range of 60F to 80F is ideal for balloon flower plants.
In hotter areas, provide some afternoon shade.
These plants tolerate a wide range of humid and dry conditions.
After the season is over, cut the plants back to the ground.
During the blooming season,deadhead the spent flowersto extend the season.
Good drainage is a necessity.
Balloon flower doesn’t like to be transplanted.
Transplant it into a new pot 2 inches larger than its current container filled with fresh potting mix.
Waler well to settle the plant into its new home.
Pests and Problems
Balloon flower plants are pest and disease-resistant.
However, they tend to experience root rot when grown in too-wet soil.
Gardeners should keep their eyes open for snails andslugs that like to nibble on the blooms.
Propagating with seed is a simple process.
Divide the plant in the spring while it is still small.
It grows 8 inches tall and wide.
Double Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandiflorus’Hakone Blue' offers dazzling double blue flowers in summer.
It grows 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide.Zones 4-8.
It grows 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide.
Balloon Flower Companion Plants
Sedum
Varieties ofsedumare practically perfect plants.
Many are attractive even in winter when their foliage dies and they’re left standing.
They’re also drought-tolerant and need very little, if any, care.
They’re favorites of butterflies and valuable bees.
The tall types are outstanding for cutting and drying.
All thrive in full sun with good drainage.
Groundcover types suppress weeds but don’t tolerate foot traffic.
Some smaller ones are best grown in pots or treated as houseplants.
Many of the best cultivars are hybrids.
All are excellent for cutting.
Deadhead to extend bloom time and divide the clumps every couple of years to ensure vigor.
Yet they look delicate, producing glorious trumpet-shaped blooms in myriad colors.
The flowers bloom on leafless stems.
The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous.
However, depending on the variety, coreopsis bears golden-yellow, pale yellow, pink, or bicolor flowers.
It blooms from early to midsummer or longer if it’s deadheaded.
They attract a range of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and birds.
Balloon flower begins to bloom in early to midsummer and blooms until late summer.
Deadheading spent blooms extends the blooming season.
