Platycodon grandiflorus: Country Or Region Of Origin
China, Korea, Japan, Russia
Plant Profile: Platycodon grandiflorus
Taxonomy: Platycodon grandiflorusNames
Balloon Flower, Chinese Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower, Japanese Bellflower
Phonetic Spelling:plat-ee-KOH-don gran-dih-FLOR-us
Genus:Platycodon
Species:grandiflorus
Family:Campanulaceae
The balloon flower derives its common name from its unopened buds, which bear a striking resemblance to hot air balloons. This plant is particularly popular among children, who enjoy watching the balloon-like buds burst when squeezed. The scientific name "Platycodon" translates to "flat bell," a fitting description for the flowers once they bloom.
This plant thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It is relatively easy to cultivate from seeds. However, dividing and transplanting can be challenging due to its delicate fleshy root system; if division is necessary, it is best to do so in the spring. Regular deadheading can help extend the flowering period.
Platycodon grandiflorus Feature Summary
Platycodon grandiflorus Image Gallery
Tags
#white
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#blue
#perennial
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#spring interest
#partial shade tolerant
#HS302
Similar Plants
Platycodon grandiflorus Feature Summary
Attributes
China, Korea, Japan, Russia
Perennial
Seed
Division
Flowers
Outward and upward-facing, bell-shaped with five pointed lobes. Blooms in late spring to summer.
White
Blue
Good Cut
Showy
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Bell
1-3 inches
Leaves
Toothed, blue-green leaves.
Deciduous
Green
Blue
Simple
Alternate
Whorled
Ovate
Lanceolate
Doubly Serrate
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Rock Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Accent
Small groups
Container
Patio
Walkways
Slope/Bank
Platycodon grandiflorus Image Gallery
Platycodon grandiflorus Attributes
Platycodon grandiflorus: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Platycodon grandiflorus: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Platycodon grandiflorus Flowers
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Description
Outward and upward-facing, bell-shaped with five pointed lobes. Blooms in late spring to summer.
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Color
Blue
White
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Platycodon grandiflorus: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Platycodon grandiflorus Leaves
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Description
Toothed, blue-green leaves.
Platycodon grandiflorus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Color
Blue
Green
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Platycodon grandiflorus: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Platycodon grandiflorus: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Platycodon grandiflorus Whole Plant Traits
Platycodon grandiflorus: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Platycodon grandiflorus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Platycodon grandiflorus: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Platycodon grandiflorus: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Platycodon grandiflorus Cultural Conditions
Platycodon grandiflorus: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Platycodon grandiflorus: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Platycodon grandiflorus: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Platycodon grandiflorus: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Platycodon grandiflorus: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Platycodon grandiflorus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Platycodon grandiflorus: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Platycodon grandiflorus Stem
Platycodon grandiflorus: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Platycodon grandiflorus Landscape
Platycodon grandiflorus: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Platycodon grandiflorus: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Platycodon grandiflorus: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
