Balloon Flower Seeds - Top Three Platycodon Grandiflora Varieties. 50. For their simple five-pointed inflorescence, these flowers are a favorite as garden ornaments and are often found blooming in parks and flower beds. Recommended Varieties of Balloon Flowers Astra series have double flowers in blue, pink or white. The flower is commonly termed the balloon flower because of its balloon-like bud structure. Growing to be about 6-12 inches tall, the ‘sentimental blue’ plant is a dwarf variety. There are a whole host of varieties to choose from if you are looking to invest in some balloon flowers, with all of them having plenty to offer the keen gardener. Pinching back stems will result in more growth at the base and a bushier looking plant. The flowers have bluish veins inside that are clearly visible; they appear either alone, or in small clusters at the ends of stems. Its small stature means that unlike many balloon flowers, it won’t need to be staked, yet still produces large, vibrant blue star-shaped flowers of up to three inches in diameter. You will need to take care as balloon flowers have particularly delicate root systems, which, although fleshy, can be very easily damaged. Here in this article, we'll go over this beautiful plant in great details. The blooms of this plant are commonly known as balloon flowers because of the way the buds swell up like balloons, and then seemingly burst into starry bell-shaped flowers. These plants form clumps on the ground, so they can also serve well as ground cover in flower beds. Snails and slugs feast on the foliage of plants, leaving unsightly holes in your plant's leaves and negatively affecting their health. Eventually the flowers open into a star-shaped blossoms. Do not expect all of your seedlings to survive the move, so grow more than you need initially. It does not cope well with being moved, and as it is a smaller variety, it would be best grown directly in the container, which will also be its final home. This will likely result in a higher success rate as the plants won’t need to be transplanted, but they will have less time to grow during the growing season, so it won’t become as large as when started earlier. The cultivars usually change in ornamental characteristics but can also sometimes switch other traits. The plant is deer-resistant, mostly disease-resistant, and is not frequently a victim of insect infestations. The flower and its roots have much nutritious value since they contain calcium, fiber, iron, proteins, and several minerals and vitamins. The root is prepared by rubbing it with sea salt after soaking and washing it; this gets rid of the bitter taste that gave rise to myths about its toxicity. They're a good choice to start from seed. You should spread them out to about a foot apart, and if you are lucky, you should have flowers greeting you within the season. Be careful not to cover the seeds over with soil or press them in too deep, as they need light in order to germinate. Cultivation. Fuji series are the most common varieties sold in nurseries. The soil, water, and sun needs are similar to other cultivars, and it is also deer resistant and perennial. This plant should be grown in well-draining loamy soil because it enjoys a good amount of moisture but does not like to be sitting in soggy soil. However, you can prune it if you wish to train it to grow in a particular way. Use a tray of moist, well-draining soil and sit the seeds on top, lightly pressing them into the soil. These double varieties of the plant are developed by cross-breeding two different kinds of balloon flowers together to create a complex inflorescence comprising of ten petals instead of five. FREE Shipping on your first order shipped by Amazon. This stalwart member of the campanula family is native to China. 3. Fuji Blue is a medium variety of balloon flowers. It is the commonly occurring namul vegetable and a main ingredient in the dish bibimbap. It can tolerate temperatures exceeding 8 0ºF but will need some protection during the hottest part of the day. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and sit them in a bright and warm spot. When properly cared for, most varieties of balloon flowers will grow to be about two feet tall and about one foot wide, though dwarf varieties tend to be about half that size. The simple beauty of the flower makes it charming for every culture. ‘Hakone Blue’ variety has bright blue double flowers that can grow alone or in clusters on top of stems. To allow this to happen, you need to refrain from deadheading the flowers as this is where the seeds are. Although open flowers were not present in huge quantities at any time, floral produc-tion over the course of the bloom period was quite good. ‘Double Blue’ cultivar of Platycodon grandiflorus is a tall stemmed flower with double the violet-blue petals. They are also deer-resistant and pest-resistant, very rarely being affected with insect infestations. for 1+3, enter 4. The buds of this variety appear as puffed up white balloons, which transform into star-shaped flared flowers. Once established in their soil, balloon flowers are live long and are reliable perennials. Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are named because their bloom starts out looking like a purple, white or blue balloon, then it pops open to a wide bloom. E.g. They bloom profusely throughout the summer, sitting on top of tall stems in clusters of flowers, with serrated foliage below. How to Grow Platycodon Plants Guide to Growing Balloon Flower / Bellflowers. Source: Chicago Botanical Garden If you plan on growing these fun flowers in your garden, the seeds need to be directly sown in the soil during the early spring months. Balloon flowers are clump-forming perennials with alternate leaves of light green on stems that usually grow between one and three feet tall. Suggested uses. Full sun is best for this plant, especially if you want it to produce an abundance of flowers. Let us know if you have any questions by leaving us a comment, and don’t forget to share this page with other interested growers! Taller varieties of balloon flower may start to flop over without adequate support. Apoyama Misato Purple. The roots are used as a vegetable and if you are ambitious it gives you ingredients for Sake! Especially good choice for containers, rock gardens or for edging. Once established, balloon flower is a … This is a dwarf form of the plant with a deep purple color and rich veination. Soil quality and substrate Regarding the beetle and the substrate in the bucket or balcony box, a platycodon should be quickly satisfied. They can range from blue and pink to white, and can be cultivated to be as small as 6 inches high, and as tall as 24 inches. This plant is also fairly successful in self-seeding, so you can benefit from extra balloon flowers for no effort at all. The plant will begin blooming during late July or early Au… The succulent roots are cut up and added to salads and soups, used as tonic vegetables, peeled and pickled, and sometimes even preserved in a sugary syrup. The Apoyama is an erect, clump-forming perennial that has very thick roots and ovate, toothed leaves. There are many varieties here are some of the highlights: 1. A high-quality, well-draining soil with good organic content will encourage water to drain away from the roots, protecting the plant against root rot while ensuring it gets all of the moisture and nutrients it needs. It is native to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East). The cultivars are available in other colors, double flowers, and shorter stemmed varieties. The flower still has the trademark balloon-shaped buds of genus Platycodon. In a most interesting genetic variation, Komachi flowers have dark blue buds that never open – even when blooming. In the Far East, the plant’s fleshy roots have been consumed for their health benefits for more than 2,000 years. If you live in a hot climate, you should position this plant so that it receives morning sun but is sheltered in the afternoon from the intense heat. The flavorful root can also be used to infuse distilled alcohol called soju. Spent flowers develop into seeds, some of which will be dispersed and settle into the soil where they will grow into new plants. Christmas Tree Economics: Are Baby Boomers Killing the Christmas Tree Industry? Balloon flower does best in full sun but some afternoon shade in the hottest zones is also preferable since it prefers cooler summer temperatures. The flowers are long-lived even after being cut, so they make great additions to cut flower arrangements. The plant originates from East Asia, but this variety, in particular, is well suited to North American gardens. There are a number of varieties of this carefree perennial. Balloon flowers are mostly disease-free. Balloon flower is a not a fragile face in the crowd, but a sturdy-stemmed beauty that stands up to repeated deep pruning for a compact and manageable form. Called dojari in Korean language, the plant and its roots are used abundantly in cooking. Komachi – clear blue flowers and the bud swells to about 2 inches in diameter but never opens. The leaves are dentate and lance-shaped, and the plant blooms at an extended length of time. … balloon flower seeds are available in blue, balloon flowers are summer-blooming cousins the... 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