Balloon Flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are the unsung heroes of the perennial world. They are easy to grow, rabbits don’t bother them, and they are happy growing in sun or part-shade. They also have a long blooming season. If you cut off the spent blossoms, the plants will keep sending up flowers off and on until frost—although not with the same gusto as that first flush of flowers.
The plant gets its name from its balloon-like flower buds:
I have some balloon flowers that have thrived in my flowerbeds for more than a decade now. There is a local nursery that sells plants for about $4 each, so I often fill my empty garden spaces with these carefree plants. Balloon Flowers are hardy in Zones 3-8 so they can handle a Wisconsin winter. There are white and pink cultivars, but I love the beautiful bluish-purple flowers of cultivars like ‘Marieseii’ or ‘Sentimental Blue’ because the rich color blends beautifully with pinks, reds or yellows.
My plants bloomed like crazy this summer:
In the fall Balloon Flowers give one last show. Their foliage turns a beautiful golden-yellow:
The plants are slow to emerge in the spring, so it’s wise to mark their location. In late June or early July your garden will be filled with charming five-pointed-star-shaped flowers.
