PlantFiles: Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower, Japanese Bellflower Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'
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Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Medium Blue
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball From herbaceous stem cuttings From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; stratify if sowing indoors Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked From seed; sow indoors before last frost From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
On Jun 30, 2006, prkist from Virginia Beach, VA wrote:
It came with the house here in Va Beach, VA and I nearly pulled it out as a weed this spring. So Glad I did not!! It is very petite and just so lovely. It gets 60% sun and seems totally happy with that. Thanks for telling me to deadhead to prolong the blooming. A friend saw it and identified it so I could learn more about it here. I have been gardening for 62 yrs and there is enough new info out there to see and learn about to keep me going to 100.
This is the cutest little plant! They dont take up much space, and the buds do resemble hot air balloons before they open. It does like a little more water in really dry spells, and once established can tolerate drought. Very easy, beautiful plant to care for.
On Oct 13, 2004, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:
My oldest daughter picked this plant out for us and it really bloomed a lot at first, then slumped all summer and started back blooming again this fall. I wonder if it just doesn't like quite so much heat. It's planted in full sun here in OK.
On Apr 19, 2004, kooger from Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) wrote:
I enjoy this plant, it spreads slowly every year and is about 2 ft. across in it's 4th year. It is a sleepyhead and is the last plant to come up in the spring. I thought it had died the first 2 years and then finally it came up! Needs deadheading.
On Nov 9, 2003, dogbane from New Orleans, LA (Zone 9a) wrote:
This plant is a hybridized native of the southern US. The native form is tall and sparse, but has the same gorgeous flowers, though a somewhat lighter color. The native is usually found in very harsh environments like sand ridges or along the edges of salty or brackish marsh. With this in mind, know that the biggest problem with cultivating Balloon Flowers is killing them with kindness. This little masochist wants to be in hot, dry, nutrient poor places and won't survive long if over tended.
On Jun 4, 2003, MartyK from Memphis, TN (Zone 7b) wrote:
It grows in full sun or dappled sun. If you deadhead, it blooms from late May til October. Mine in dappled sun reach 15-20" in height. The ones in full sun are 8-10".
On Jun 4, 2003, gabriell from Tyler, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
I have had one balloon flower for eight years.I transplanted it from another garden and it survived.It dies back in the winter and comes back in the spring.It is blooming now a beautiful true blue.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Clayton, California Country Club, California Magalia, California Paradise, California Grand Junction, Colorado Glastonbury Center, Connecticut Casselberry, Florida Vidalia, Georgia Cherry Valley, Illinois Edgewood, Illinois Mount Prospect, Illinois Farmersburg, Indiana Fishers, Indiana Galena, Indiana Oak Park, Indiana Inwood, Iowa Wichita, Kansas Baton Rouge, Louisiana Belle Chasse, Louisiana Norco, Louisiana Pollock, Louisiana Barnstable Town, Massachusetts Dracut, Massachusetts Springfield, Massachusetts Uxbridge, Massachusetts Worcester, Massachusetts Farmington, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan Harrison, Michigan Madison Heights, Michigan Royal Oak, Michigan Saginaw, Michigan Traverse City, Michigan Florence, Mississippi Madison, Mississippi Piedmont, Missouri Bay Head, New Jersey Denville, New Jersey Flanders, New Jersey New Milford, New Jersey Campbell Hall, New York Hilton, New York Cary, North Carolina Clemmons, North Carolina Davidson, North Carolina Flat Rock, North Carolina Warren, Ohio Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Dover, Pennsylvania Millersburg, Pennsylvania Spring Grove, Pennsylvania Conway, South Carolina Northlake, South Carolina Aberdeen, South Dakota Hendersonville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Fort Worth, Texas Georgetown, Texas Rowlett, Texas Tyler, Texas Canyon Rim, Utah Birdsnest, Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Raphine, Virginia Virginia Beach, Virginia East Port Orchard, Washington Sissonville, West Virginia Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin Janesville, Wisconsin
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