Blue Balloon Flower Platycodon grandifloras (blue balloon flower) is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant (Campanulaceae fami...
Blue Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandifloras
(blue balloon flower) is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant (Campanulaceae
family). It is also a lone member of the genus Platycodon. These plants are native
to east Asia (the Russian Far East, Korea, Japan, China)
These plants
are commonly called balloon flower plants, referring to their beautiful balloon-shaped
flower buds.
These are
easy to grow, hardy, and disease-resistant plants. They grow in clumps and are
perfectly fitted for border plantations. You can find them in gardens all over
the world including the USA.
Description
H2:
In general,
the Platycodon Grandiflorus (blue balloon flower) plants grow about 60 cm (24
in) tall and spread about 30 cm (12 in).
The lance-shaped thick leaves have serrated margins and are dark green
in color.
These plants
bloom in summer. The swollen flowers buds resemble small balloons in shape.
They form beautiful blue flowers which measure about 2-3 inches across. The colors
may vary depending on the environment from bluish shades to pinkish ones. The
prominent veils in petals are sometimes visible to the eyes.
When handled
carelessly, the fleshy taproots are susceptible to damages.
The original
botanical species are found to grow in excess of 36 inches tall and more than
18 inches wide, in native wildlands.
There are
different varieties of cultivated blue balloon flower plants available in
commercial markets. The dwarf varieties
grow 4-6 inches in height and equally wide. The medium-sized plants grow 12 -18
inches in height and equally wide.
Propagation
h2:
Generally,
these plants thrive well under full sun. But they require part shades during
hot afternoons. When exposed to direct sunlight (at least 6 hours) on most
days, they bloom more flowers.
Through the
ideal temperature range is about 60 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit, these perennials
can withstand higher temperatures when provided with sufficient afternoon
shades. USDA recommends zones 3 – 8 to grow these plants.
The young
plants die readily in frosts. Even the established ones’ dieback and fall on
the ground under severe frosts.
These hardy
plants thrive well in organically rich, well-draining, moderately moist loamy
soils. The ideal soil pH is about 5.5 – 7.5. These plants can also tolerate
high humid and dry air environments when soil moisture is rightly maintained.
From seeds
At least a couple of months prior to the last frost date, sow the seeds indoors in a container
filled with seed starter mix or normal potting soil. Cover the seeds about 1/16
inch of soil barely. Platycodon seeds need light to germinate.
Then, place
the container carefully in a warm space. Maintain the moisture of the soil by
watering regularly. But avoid overwatering. You can expect germination within
a few weeks.
After the
dangers of frost is passed and seedlings have developed at least 2 sets of true
leaves, harden them off for at least 5 days. Then transplant them in gardens
carefully, without damaging the fragile roots.
You can also
plant seeds directly in gardens after the frost. But the plants may not bloom
until the second year.
You can easily purchase nursery-grown
plants from the garden centers nearby. If you prefer your plants to bloom in the first year, transplant them in early spring. You can also transplant them
almost anytime throughout the growing period. but they may not bloom in the
first year.
Dig a hole with the same depth and width
as the root ball. Remove the plants carefully from pots without damaging the
fragile roots. Plant them carefully in the holes. Water the plants and
maintain the soil moist.
From cuttings
Start
this process in early spring. Cut about four inches of stem from matured
plants. Pinch off the foliage from the bottom portion of the cutting. Then, dip
the end portion in a good quality rooting hormone and plant it in a container
filled with potting medium.
Water
as needed and maintain the soil moist. The cuttings will root in a few weeks’
time. After that, transplant them in the gardens.
Caring blue balloon flower Plants H2
Blue balloon flower plants are one of the easy maintenance plants. They
even do not require regular intervention after establishing themselves.
When the plants are young, maintain the soil moisture by watering as
needed regularly. You can also use mulch to retain moisture. The established
plants do not require frequent watering except on long dry spells.
Unless the soil is poor, fertilizing is not needed. However, feeding the
plants with compost after the growing season replenishes energy in them.
If you prefer compact and bushy growth, simply cut the
stems by half in spring. Avoid disrupting emerging stems. To make the airflow
better, remove the dead stems, withered foliage, and other debris in the fall.
By deadheading the spent blooms, you can prevent
self-sowing. Another option is to remove the stem itself that has spent blooms.
You can also dry the removed stems to collect the seeds. As most of these
plants are hybrids, the new plants propagated from seeds may not have the same
characteristics as that of the parent.
Platycodon grandiflorus Astra series
These
dwarf, compact plants have double rows of white, pink, or blue petals in
flowers. Seed propagation is best suited
for this variety.
Platycodon grandiflorus Fuji series
These
are tall plants with 30-inch stems. You can find them commonly in almost all
garden centers. They have deep blue, light pink, or creamy white flowers.
Platycodon grandiflorus 'Komachi'
This compact plant grows about 18 inches tall. The bell-shaped flowers of this plant
have exotic baby blue colors. They look like tiny colorful umbrellas in top
view. The eye-catching display of these flowers makes them an excellent choice
for vase flower arrangements.
Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'
This
is another popular dwarf variety of balloon flower plants. These plants grow
about 6 -12 inches tall and 12 -18 inches wide.
The
flowers are purplish in color and measure about 2 -3 inches in diameter. These
low-profile plants suit well for borders and edges.
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