Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Beautiful Balloon Flowers in Your Garden

The Platycodon grandiflorus, commonly known as balloon flower, has inflated buds that are enjoyable to pop and make for great cut flowers. It can be found in blue-violet, pink, and white colors, with shorter forms better suited for rock gardens and containers. In the fall, the foliage turns clear gold. Balloon flowers prefer to grow in sunny locations with eight hours of sunlight daily and well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. The plants are easy to care for, usually without extra irrigation, and can be propagated by seed, stem cuttings, or division. They are pest and disease-resistant, but gardeners should stay watchful for root rot and snails or slugs. ‘Astra Blue’ is a popular type of balloon flower.

The ‘Astra Blue’ variety of Platycodon grandiflorus is a charming plant that produces big, beautiful blue flowers on small, compact bushes during late summer. It only grows to about 8 inches in height and width, making it perfect for smaller gardens. This plant can be grown in zones 4-9 and is commonly known as the Double Balloon Flower.

Looking for a stunning addition to your garden? Check out Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Hakone Blue’. This plant produces beautiful double blue flowers in the summertime and can grow up to 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide. It’s recommended for planting in zones 4 through 8. Another option is the ‘Sentimental Blue’ Balloon Flower.

The plant known as Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Sentimental Blue’ produces gorgeous purple-blue blooms during the late summer season. Its small size of 12 inches in height and 18 inches in width make it a perfect fit for any garden area. This plant is ideal for growing in zones 4-9. If you’re looking for companion plants, Sedum would be an excellent choice to pair with it.

The sedum plant is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for low-maintenance and visually appealing foliage. This plant boasts a year-round beauty, beginning with its springtime blooms and continuing through the growing season. Even in winter, when its leaves die, it remains an attractive addition to any garden. Sedums are known for their resilience to drought and require minimal care, making them an excellent option for busy gardeners. Additionally, these plants are beloved by butterflies and bees. From tall stems that can reach over 2 feet to low-growing groundcovers, there are many different varieties of this plant to choose from. While groundcover options do an excellent job suppressing weeds, they are not ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic. Smaller sedums thrive in pots or as houseplants as well. Overall, the sedum is a versatile and gorgeous addition to any garden.

Helenium, a plant that produces stunning daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, brown, and mahogany, is perfect for adding some late-season color to your garden. You’ll find some fantastic hybrid varieties that are perfect for cutting. To keep them flowering longer, deadhead regularly, and divide the clumps every few years to maintain their health.

Daylilies are incredibly low-maintenance plants that can often be found growing wild in fields and ditches. Despite their hardiness, they produce beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colors and there are over 50,000 hybrid cultivars available in varying sizes and heights. Some daylilies even have a pleasant fragrance. While each bloom only lasts a day, many quality cultivars have multiple buds on each stem, resulting in a long blooming period if deadheaded regularly. The foliage of daylilies can be evergreen or deciduous. Another popular plant, Coreopsis, is also worth considering for your garden.

Coreopsis is a garden plant that has one of the longest blooming periods. It typically produces charming daisy-like flowers in a bright yellow shade that butterflies can’t resist. The variety of coreopsis can have golden-yellow, pale yellow, pink, or multicolored flowers. Its blooming period spans from early to midsummer, and can even extend if you remove the dead flowers.