Balloon Flower Varieties

July 04, 2023 Post a Comment

Balloon flower varieties

Balloon flower grows 12 to 20 inches high and looks great in rock gardens, mixed borders, or cutting gardens. Besides blue, balloon flower is also available in white and pink varieties. Once established, balloon flower is a long-lived, deer-resistant perennial that you can rely on for many years.

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.

Do balloon flowers 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.

How tall do balloon flowers get?

Common Name	Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower
Mature Size	1– 2 1/2 ft. tall, 1–1 1/2 ft. wide
Sun Exposure	Full sun to part shade
Soil Type	Rich, loamy, medium moisture, well-draining
Soil pH	5.5–7.5 (acidic to slightly alkaline)

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.

Do balloon flowers prefer sun or shade?

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.

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.

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.

Do balloon flowers do well 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.

Will balloon flowers self seed?

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.

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.

How far apart should I plant balloon flowers?

It is not necessary to cover seeds; simply moisten the area and within a couple weeks you should have sprouts. Thin these to about a foot (31 cm.) apart. Generally, balloon flowers bloom within the same season they are sown.

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.

How do balloon flowers multiply?

Balloon Flower Seeds After the bloom dies off, you'll see a brown pod at the end of the stem. Wait until the stem and pod dry out completely, then snap the stem and place the pod into a paper bag. Once you break open the pods, you'll find hundreds of tiny brown seeds that look like miniature grains of brown rice.

What colors do balloon flower come in?

Most commonly available in blue-violet, balloon flowers also come in pink and white, as well as shorter forms that are better suited for rock gardens and containers. In fall, the foliage of balloon flower turns clear gold, so don't cut the plant down too early — enjoy the show!

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.

How do you get balloon flowers to rebloom?

Those i talked about the pretty balloon flowers and how vivid blue they are when they're finished

What goes well with balloon flower?

Lavender, catmint, coreopsis, artemisia and lambs-ear are good companion plants for balloon flowers. The taller varieties are suitable for borders while the dwarf cultivars are perfect for containers.

What animals eat balloon flowers?

Slugs are one of the most common pests of balloon flowers.

How do you keep balloon flowers short?

Pruning Balloon Flower Cutting perennials back can help strengthen the stems, allowing the plants to stay upright for the rest of the growing season. It also helps create a bushier shape without the leggy or weedy growth that balloon flowers sometimes develop over time.