Balloon Flower

Scientific Name: Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacquin) A. DC.
Synonym: Campanula grandiflora
Family: Campanulaceae

Recommended Temperature Zone:
Sunset®: All zones
AHS: 9-4
USDA: 4-9

Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Origin: China, eastern Siberia and Japan

Growth Habits: Perennial, 12 inches tall (30 cm) .

Flowers: White, purple, violet or blue flowers

Watering Needs: Moderate water, needs good drainage.

Propagation: Seeds, the fleshy taproot is fairly fragile and resent division, cuttings in summer

I have balloon flowers coming back every year in a small piece of flower bed, under a hibiscus. They dry up at the end of the summer and come back in March, starting to bloom mid-May until September. I am convinced that they grow back from the root, and are not growing back from seed. For a complete summer they had little water and still looked fine. I have to say, that they look much better with regular water.

Blooming Habits:
Blue flowers from May to September. The cut flowers are long lasting.

Propagation:
The ballon flowers in my backyard don't seem to clump, seeds seems to be the only way to propagate them. The seeds are extremely small and need light ant humidity to germinate. Sow them inside, without covering them with soil. Cover the pot so that they don't dry. They can generally be transplanted outside after 2-3 months