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 spent 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). 'Fairy Snow' can be purchased as seed, and may 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. 'Fairy Snow' is a dwarf plant which features 1.5" diameter white flowers with blue veins inside which appear singly or in small clusters atop stems typically growing only 6-10" tall. Dentate, lance-shaped leaves. Blooms throughout the summer.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Plants emerge late in spring.
Uses:
Rock gardens or border fronts. Containers.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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