How to Grow Balloon Flower Plants

About Growing Balloon Flower in Your Home Garden

You’re gonna just love growing Balloon Flowers, especially if you have kids. As the name implies, the immature flower buds puff up and resemble hot air balloons. Squeeze the flower buds, and they pop! You and the kids may find it irresistible to pop the buds. But, save a few, as the flowers are attractive, too. Established perennial Balloon Flower plants grow for years and require little attention.

This low-maintenance plant is a member of the Bellflower family. Balloon flowers open into a two-inch across, five-pointed star of violet-blue, pink, or white, depending upon variety. But, that’s not all. In the Fall, the foliage turns an attractive gold color.

Balloon Flowers are great as cut flowers. But, the stem contains a milky sap. After cutting, seal the cut end of the stem with a lit match or candle.

Balloon Flowers attract butterflies.

Try growing them in containers, flower beds, or as borders.

Balloon Flower Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Blue-violet, pink, white

Flowers Bloom: Late Spring, and again in late summer

Plant Height: 12″ – 18″

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 through 8.

Sunlight Needs: Full to partial sun

Toxicity: The plants are non-toxic.

Native to: China, Korea, Japan, and Russia

Other Names: Chinese Bellflower, Japanese Bellflower

Perennial, Platycodon Grandiflora

Are Balloon Flowers Edible?

Yes!

The bulb, flower, and leaves are all edible. The roots are also edible.

The flower is sweet tasting. It is good in salads, stews, candies, or dipped in butter.

The top leaves are edible. Others can be slightly toxic.

Make older leaves into a powder and use it for flavoring foods.

Balloon Flower Medicinal Uses

The Balloon Flower plant has many medicinal uses.

Among them are:

It lowers both blood sugar and cholesterol.
Fights coughs, colds, and throat infections.
Reduces hypertension.
It boosts the immune system.
Fights respiratory ailments.
Reduces the risk of some cancers.

Perennial Balloon Flower Plant Propagation

The plants are grown from seed. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden. Sow Balloon Flower seeds in the spring, and barely cover with 1/16″ soil. Or set them on the soil, and lightly water them in. Space seeds or seedlings 8″-10″ apart.

For an early start in the spring, sow seeds in trays indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your area.

In addition, you can root cuttings from established plants. Use young shoots.

Plant division is also possible, but more difficult. The plants do not spread much.

Days to Germination: 5 – 21 days.

How to Grow Balloon Flower Plants

These easy-to-grow plants prefer full to partial sun. Select a location where this perennial can grow for many years.

Ballon Flower plants like moist, rich soil, that is well-drained. Importantly, they do not tolerate wet feet for extended periods and do not do well in droughts.

Water plants regularly, in hot, dry weather. Do not overwater, as the roots can rot in prolonged wet soil.

Fertilize plants in the spring, with a high nitrogen formula, And again in early summer, with a general-purpose formula.

Pinch back growing tips, to get fuller, bushier plant growth. Stake the plants as needed. If grown in partial sun, the plants will be less stocky, and staking them is recommended.

Deadhead blooms to promote more flowers.

For winter protection, add a couple of inches of mulch over the plants. This is very important in colder regions.

Insects and Plant Disease

Perennial Balloon Flowers are resistant to insects and disease. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.

Plants are deer resistant.

Also, see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.