Balloon Flower

These Platycodon grandiflorus, also known as Balloon Flowers after their round buds, will produce pretty long-lasting flowers throughout the summer. They are very easy-going plants and are best enjoyed outdoors in a pot or border.

Your balloon flower can be kept indoors temporarily (for a few weeks) however will be happiest in the garden either in a container or planted out. If planting out, choose a position in full sun or partial shade with moist but well-draining soil. Balloon flowers are fairly hardy so will do well in either exposed or sheltered conditions.

When planting out, add some compost to the hole to help your plant settle in and keep well-watered whilst it is establishing. Once settled, you can probably allow the rain to do your watering but try to make sure the soil is kept damp in hot weather. If keeping your plant in a pot, a general-purpose plant feed every few waters in the growing season will keep it looking fresh and producing new flowers. If keeping your plant indoors for a short while, aim to keep the compost damp but not soggy.

Problem Solving

Each individual flower is quite short lived but if you pinch out the spent flowers as they die off it will keep your plant looking tidy and encourage more blooms.

Balloon flowers are deciduous, don’t be alarmed when the foliage dies off with the frost, just trim them back and they will re-emerge in the Spring.