Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra Blue'

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Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra Blue'

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Kemper Code: Z620

Common Name: balloon flower
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Bloom Time: June - August Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Division and transplanting are possible but tricky because of the fragile, fleshy root systems of these plants, and it is probably best to leave plants undisturbed once established. Deadheading spend flowers generally prolongs the bloom period. New season plant stems emerge late in spring, so gardeners must be careful not to damage crowns by early cultivation (leaving old plant stems in place throughout winter to the point when the new growth first appears helps mark plant locations). 'Astra Blue' is part of the Astra series which is an F1 hybrid seed strain featuring white, pink and blue flowers. 'Astra Blue' can be purchased as seed, and will self-seed in the garden in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Balloon flower is a clump-forming perennial which is so named because its flower buds puff up like balloons before bursting open into outward to upward facing, bell-shaped flowers with five pointed lobes. 'Astra Blue' is an extremely dwarf plant which only grows to 4" tall. Features 1.5" diameter, blue flowers which seem almost out of proportion to this dwarf plant. Oval, dentate leaves. Blooms throughout the summer.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Plants emerge late in spring.

Uses:

Rock gardens or border fronts. Containers.