Dwarf Balloon Flower

September 19, 2024 Post a Comment

Dwarf balloon flower

Dense, compact and mounding, the deep green foliage of this hardworking, long blooming selection is completely obscured at times in the summer months with large, single, deep violet-blue blooms from July through August. Long blooming and easy to grow.

Does the balloon flower spread?

The roots are not aggressive, but this plant self-sows with vigor, spreading via new shoots that pop up in the fertile ground each spring. Plant sizes vary. The true botanical species, as found in the wild in its native lands, may reach or even exceed 36 inches tall and 18 inches wide at maturity.

Does a balloon flower come back every year?

Balloon Flowers are easy to grow, long-lived perennials. Long-lasting star-shaped flowers emerge from balloon-like buds in summer. Balloon flower plants will occasionally repeat bloom in the fall when old flowers are removed.

Where is the best place to plant a balloon flower?

Whether you transplant your seedlings or go with starter plants from a nursery, place them in a sunny spot in the garden. They'll grow in partial shade, but you'll get the most flowers if the plant gets eight or more hours of sun a day. Balloon flowers prefer well-drained, loamy soil that's slightly acidic.

Will balloon flowers survive winter?

In colder areas, balloon flower dies back to the ground in the winter. It's often one of the later flowers to emerge in the spring, so when growing balloon flower you may want to mark the spot somehow so you don't plant over it. If you want to start from seed, remember that it won't flower the first year.

How do you keep balloon flowers short?

To achieve stockier plants, you can cut back tall stems by about half in the late spring. This can help to prevent the plants from flopping over. Also, deadheading your plants (removing spent blooms) will keep them looking good and repeatedly blooming. Don't remove the whole stem, just the faded flowers.

How long do balloon flowers live?

Balloon flowers reach a height of 12 to 20 inches and are ideal for rock gardens, mixed borders, and cutting gardens. Balloon flowers are also available in white and pink. Balloon flower is a long-lived, deer-resistant perennial that will last for many years if established.

Can balloon flowers grow in pots?

Balloon flower does well in containers and is great for cut flowers. It attracts butterflies and is a magnet for birds. The plant looks great as a border plant and is lovely in rock gardens.

Do balloon flowers smell?

In the mid to late summer, balloon plants sprout clusters of waxy white and purple flowers which smell faintly like vanilla. These flowers are not particularly beautiful, but they are attractive to butterflies.

Will balloon flowers rebloom if deadheaded?

Deadheading a balloon flower is a worthwhile chore. In summer, you can prune further down and remove up to one-third of the branches for a total rebloom. Deadheading a balloon flower doesn't take long, but your efforts will be rewarded largely with a bounty of blooms.

What do you do with balloon flowers after they bloom?

Although balloon flowers are usually cut back in spring so the old stems can protect the plant roots from winter frost, you can also prune them back in late fall after the foliage dies back if you live in a mild climate.

Should balloon flowers be cut back for winter?

And these make the nice cut flowers if you want to do that. You can go down as low as you want

How do you maintain balloon flowers?

It will thrive in sun or partial shade. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil; and although the balloon flower plant will tolerate dry conditions, it prefers (and needs) plenty of moisture. This cold hardy plant also prefers cooler conditions in summer, so afternoon shade is a good idea for warmer regions.

Do balloon flowers like coffee grounds?

Balloon flowers are cold hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. The species prefers a soil pH around 6. Coffee grounds can be mixed in to acidify the soil.

Do balloon flowers reseed?

Part of problem is that balloon flowers self-seed very fast. The plants could be deadheaded to prevent self-seeding but this is a nerve racking, time consuming task. Each single seed pod has to be clipped off in order to leave the remaining buds or open blossoms.

Is a balloon flower indoor or outdoor?

Balloon flower prefers a light spot, and can even tolerate full sun. It requires a lot of water - don't allow the soil to dry out. Give it plant food once a week to encourage flowering. It can be placed indoors or outdoors in the warmer months.

How often should you water a balloon flower?

Once balloon flowers are established in a garden, they require little supplemental water thanks to their deep taproots. At most, they should be watered once a week. Always avoid standing water. 5.

What do balloon flowers symbolize?

Symbolism. The flower's five points give rise to a lot of local folklore. In Europe it represents the five senses, and the five elements according to ancient Greek philosophy. In Japan the Balloon flower appears on the coats of arms of important families, and Wicca believers see a pentagram in it.

Do balloon flowers attract bees?

Balloon flowers do best in partial shade and attract bees and butterflies.

What are the benefits of balloon flower?

Balloon Flower (Platycodon For thousands of years this perennial herb has been used to treat hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant (Ji et al., 2020).