Balloon flower: plant, care & overwintering
The balloon flower is a beautiful ornamental plant with its perennial flower and spherical buds. It is popular as an annual container plant.
Due to the rather late budding of the balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), it is a good idea to combine it with spring flowering plants in order to enjoy a splendid display of flowers in the garden for longer. You can read more about the suitable location, care and hardiness of the balloon flower below. We also present a few of the most beautiful balloon flower varieties.
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Balloon flower: flowering time, origin and properties
The balloon flower belongs to the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and is also known as the large-flowered balloon flower or Chinese bellflower. This long-lived perennial is the only species in the genus Platycodon. Its areas of origin are in north-east Asia. The natural habitats are mainly shrub edges and sunny herbaceous meadows, but also woodland clearings.
The balloon flower is a deciduous, herbaceous plant that forms clumps with heights between 40 and 60cm. It develops a turnip-like taproot, which is considered poisonous in its raw state, as are the rest of the plant parts of the balloon flower. In China and Korea, however, it plays a role in medicine and cooking. The balloon flower’s oval, pointed, green leaves are slightly bluish, serrated to toothed at the edge and have a light, whitish wax coating. In autumn the foliage takes on an orange-red-brown colour. The bell-shaped flowers usually consist of five fused petals, which can appear in white, blue, pink and purple, depending on the variety. The balloon flower owes its name to the balloon-like shape of the still closed flower buds. The flowering period usually extends from early July to late August, more rarely from June to September.
The nectar and pollen supply of Platycodon grandiflorus is rather mediocre, but it’s persistent flowering provides insects with a constant food source. Capsule fruits with several egg-shaped seeds develop from the fertilised balloon flower blossoms.
Is balloon flower perennial? The balloon flower belongs to the perennial plants, however, it is partly only conditionally hardy, which is why the ornamental plant is often only used as an annual, especially for container plantings.
The most beautiful varieties
The various cultivars have enchanting flower colours and different growing heights. Below we have put together a selection of the most beautiful balloon flower varieties.
- Platycodon grandiflorus ˈAlbusˈ: the white balloon flower ˈAlbusˈ can reach a growth height of up to 60cm. Its pure white flowers combine excellently with other flower colours.
- Platycodon grandiflorus ˈFuji Pinkˈ: this balloon flower variety bears pinkish-white flowers with reddish veining. It grows up to 50cm tall. This species is also suited for use as a cut flower.
- Platycodon grandiflorus ˈFairy Snowˈ: this white balloon flower also has veining, but it is blue. The growth height of ˈFairy Snowˈ is only about 25cm. This variety is suitable for rock gardens and pot plantings, for example – it flowers reliably and is sturdy.
- Platycodon grandiflorus ˈMariesiiˈ: the typical blue balloon flower cultivar grows to about 50cm tall. It is the hardiest variety and was awarded the Award of Garden Merit. The prize is only awarded to plants that are particularly well-suited to cultivation in the British Isles on the basis of various criteria.
Planting balloon flowers
There are a few points to consider when choosing a location and planting the balloon flower. Below we explain what you should look for and what to avoid.
The right place for balloon flowers
The planting site should be sunny to semi-shady and preferably sheltered. The ideal light intensity depends on the flower colour of the heat-loving balloon flower: Darker, i.e. blue balloon flowers are preferably planted in a sunny position and white or pink balloon flowers rather in light partial shade. This prevents the colour from changing.
The soil should be relatively nutritious, fresh to summer-dry and above all well-drained. Sandy-loamy substrates are ideal in this case. As already mentioned, the use of lower varieties of balloon flower is also possible on stony soils. Permeability is essential for the root health of the plant, as stagnant moisture often leads to rot. Once the plants are established, they can withstand summer dry spells without any problems. If the balloon flower is to be cultivated in a pot, this must in any case be equipped with drainage holes and filled with a drainage layer of expanded clay of approximately 3cm. The ornamental plant should be able to cope with a plant pot capacity of about 10 litres. The substrate used should be mixed with at least 30 % by volume of sand to improve permeability. For filling, high-quality potting soil is suitable, such as our peat-free Plantura Organic Flower Compost, which already completely covers the moderate nutrient requirements of the balloon flower with the fertilisers contained for one season.
- Perfect for all flowering plants in garden beds & pots
- For beautiful blossoms & healthy plant growth
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Are balloon flowers eaten by slugs and snails? Slugs and snails especially like to attack young specimens of balloon flowers. Learn in our article which options of slug and snail protection are available and which method is suitable for your garden.
Sowing and planting
The best time to plant the decorative balloon flower is in spring. The area where they are planted should be deeply loosened and the planting hole dug about twice the size of the root ball. Then add some composted to the soil you have dug out and plant the balloon flower at ground level. Do not forget to water the plants at this point. If planting several specimens, you should keep a planting distance of 30 to 35cm. If you would like to grow the balloon flower from seed, then you can follow our clear instructions for this:
- Pre-growing indoors from February
- Fill a sowing tray with substrate
- Sprinkle with seeds, press down lightly and do not cover with soil as they need light to germinate
- Keep trays evenly moist and place them in a bright place with indirect light
- Germination temperature should be about 20 °C, then cooler
- Germination period: approx. 2 – 3 weeks
- Prick out seedlings after 4 – 8 weeks
- After 6 – 10 weeks, plant 1 – 2 seedlings in 11/12 cm pots
Caring for balloon flowers
Caring for balloon flowers is not very time-consuming – the perennial is particularly undemanding when it comes to nutrient supply. We have compiled all the most important care measures below.
Watering and fertilising
Especially after planting, make sure to water regularly to support the growth, taking care that no water logging occurs. Once the plants have established themselves, additional watering is only required outdoors during prolonged dry spells. Balloon flowers in pots, on the other hand, are constantly dependent on watering if they are kept under cover. As soon as the topmost layer of substrate feels dry, you can water them again. The rule is: to prevent root rot, it is better to water less but more often than to water copiously and only rarely. The nutrient requirements of the balloon flower are not high, so fertilising with compost in spring is usually sufficient.
Pruning balloon flowers
The balloon flower should be pruned annually, preferably in spring before new shoots appear rather than in autumn, as this gives the withered parts of the plant additional winter protection. Then the perennial can be cut back close to the ground.
Should you remove wilted balloon flower blossoms?
Removing the withered flowers of the balloon flower makes sense in any case, as this stimulates new flower formation. Otherwise, the plant would spend its energy on seed formation.
Tip: frequent repotting or transplanting outdoors should be avoided with the balloon flower as it does not tolerate this very well due to its taproot.
Is the balloon flower hardy?
As already mentioned, balloon flowers are only conditionally hardy – this applies especially to younger plants and balloon flowers in pots. The frost hardiness is about -15 °C. Therefore, the perennial should be provided with additional protection outdoors, especially in the first few years. A cover made of brushwood or leaves, for example, is suitable for this. To overwinter the balloon flower in a pot, place it in a frost-free but cool and light place.
Propagating balloon flowers
The balloon flower can also be propagated by division, but this should only be done after the fifth year of growth. Therefore, propagating the balloon flower by seed is more suitable. It is important to know that perennials cannot usually be propagated from self-harvested seeds if there are different varieties in the garden. But that does not have to be a disadvantage — on the contrary: you can be surprised by the new flower colour. You can harvest the seeds of the balloon flower on a sunny, dry day in late summer or autumn, when the fruiting bodies have dried and the seeds have fully matured. These can then be stored in a dry, cool and dark place until next spring. We have already described above how to go about sowing the balloon flower.
Are balloon flowers poisonous?
The plant parts of the balloon flowers contain saponins and are therefore poisonous to humans and animals such as dogs and cats. Accidental consumption may cause gastrointestinal symptoms as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Irritation of the mucous membranes is also possible. In Asian cuisine, the young roots and leaves of the balloon flowers are used for cooking, as cooking is said to render the toxic substances harmless. However, it is not advisable to try it yourself, as there is still a high chance of intolerance.
The pretty bellflower (Campanula spec.) looks very similar to the balloon flower and is also the namesake of the family. In our articles, you can find comprehensive information about the decorative plant.
