Balloon Flower: Hollow Balloons and Starlike Blooms
|
Balloon flowers, or Chinese bellflower, are herbaceous perennials. The scientific name is Platycodon grandiflorus. They are native to East Asia, where the roots are used as an ingredient for salads and as remedy for cough and cold. Depending on the variety, they can have blue, white, or pink flowers, and can be tall, medium size, or dwarf. The buds are shaped like hollow balloons that open into starlike blooms. Cut balloon flowers make excellent flower arrangements. They also make very nice border plants. If you are thinking of vertical gardening, plan on some balloon flowers.
Plant Hardiness Balloon flowers can endure both freezing and hot weathers, Zones 3 to 8 per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. They thrive in full as well as partial sun, but they favor cool summers. They keep on flowering even after many perennials have ceased. Propagation The seed method is the simplest. You can plant it directly in the ground, but it is best to start it indoors in the winter. Although it is not easy to divide balloon flowers, you can cut them in late spring through early summer. Carefully dig where the new stems unite with the roots. Cut off the new stems with a very sharp cutting instrument and leave about half an inch of root. Plant them in a mixture of potting soil and slow-released fertilizer. Temperature If the temperature is somewhere between 65°F and 75°F, the balloon flower will germinate in about three weeks. However, if the temperature is somewhere at 40°F or colder, it will probably take at least six weeks to sprout. Cultivation Space the plants between 18” to 24” apart. Keep the soil moist and well drained. Do not over water. In the summer, apply about 2” of organic mulch. Balloon flowers require little attention, but they are late spring arrivals. Remember where you plant them to avoid mistaking them for weeds. They have rigid stems, so unless you are planting the compact varieties as the Apoyama, Mariesii, and the like, you need to give the balloon flowers some kind of support method. You should do so before they reach flowering stage and not any later. Otherwise, the stems will break if you try to straighten them. If you want blossoms on the first year, opt for potted plants instead of seed. You can usually transplant balloon flowers in about three months. After the blossoms disappear, let the old stems just die as a matter of course. Do not cut them back to avoid damaging the crown. To promote more blooms, collect the flowers as they fade. Companion Planting Try combination planting of your blue balloon flowers with Coronation Gold yarrows or orange cosmos. You will be pleased at the attractive combination of colors. Sweet William. a self-seeding biennial (short-lived) perennial, is also an excellent companion to balloon flowers.
|
|
