Platycodon, Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower, Japanese Bellflower 'Mariesii'
Platycodon grandiflorus
Family: | Campanulaceae (kam-pan-yew-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Platycodon (plat-ee-KO-don) (Info) |
Species: | grandiflorus (gran-dih-FLOR-us) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Mariesii |
Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Foliage Color:
Height:
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing:
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
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)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Pink
Dark Blue
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Sorrento, British Columbia
Lula, Georgia
Springfield, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Calvert City, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Buckfield, Maine
Pikesville, Maryland
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Swansea, Massachusetts
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Brighton, Michigan
Richland, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Florence, Mississippi
Washington, Missouri
Charlotte, North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Akron, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Enid, Oklahoma
Colver, Pennsylvania
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Oil City, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Agar, South Dakota
Austin, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Mexia, Texas
Leesburg, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Marinette, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On May 6, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: 'Mariesii' is shorter than the species (1-2' vs 2 1/2 - 3'). I suspect that a lot of what's sold as 'Mariesii' isn't true to name, because so many are a great deal taller. In any case, now there are cultivars/seed strains that are even shorter. |
Positive | On May 4, 2014, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: This plant survived its first winter here which was hard and dry. |
Positive | On Jun 14, 2010, Steve_in_NC from Monroe, NC (Zone 8a) wrote: This is yet another specimen (see also stoke's aster) that I once stuck in the ground years ago in a little-used section of my property. I rediscovered it after seven years of neglect, happily flowering. It survived drought and fought off the weeds. There may be about a dozen plants there now. I plan to divide them this winter and give them more space. This plant is a survivor! I warmly recommend it for your low-maintenance perennial garden. |
Positive | On Aug 10, 2009, LouC from Desoto, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: This now being the 4th summer with the blue balloon, I have learned that the falling over is quite natural and I have given up staking or caging. After it falls over there will soon be additional blooms standing straight up with even more blooms. Just took awhile to let it do it's own thing to see just what that might be. |
Positive | On Aug 7, 2008, angihansen from Watkinsville, GA wrote: A carefree plant that is very late to come up in the spring, so it's great to mix in with spring-flowering bulbs... these babies will just start to show their heads as the tulip foliage is fading. They're picky about root disturbance so it's best to leave them along once planted (unless you move them while dormant). My neighbor and I both have some of these, and they're pretty and heavy flowering. Intriguingly, the height for individual plants can vary dramatically--some are only 12-18" high, while other plants just a couple of feet away are 3 feet high. We haven't yet figured out what accounts for the difference... |
Positive | On Jul 25, 2007, kizilod from Cumberland, RI (Zone 6b) wrote: 2007: |
Positive | On Mar 3, 2006, jmb_nc from Charlotte, NC wrote: I love this plant. Last year it started blooming in late spring/early summer, and produced tons of flowers. Late in the summer (August), it seemed to be done, so I cut it back to the ground, and within a few weeks, it had started growing back, reaching approximately half the height of the original growth, and it had lots more flowers right into fall. I like how the flower looks like a balloon at first, and then "pops" into a lovely flower, closing to a balloon again at night. Very hardy in the hot NC summer. |
Positive | On Oct 23, 2004, SalmonMe from Springboro, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: Very pretty, shorter variety that I did not need to stake. Be careful with pruning/deadheading. Only remove spent bloom, NOT the entire stalk -- you will remove newly growing buds and greatly decrease flowering time. Avoid moving plant around, its roots do best when left undisturbed. Also, not a good choice around annuals for this reason. VERY long lived once established and low-maintenance. Late emergence in spring, so be sure to mark it well before cutting back. Pretty yellow color for fall foliage. |