The species is often erect but smaller cultivars have a
round habit.
24-36 inches.
Usually blue, but
white and pink are also available. Flowers are
saucer-shaped 2-3 inches wide. Buds are
balloon-shaped and pop when squeezed. Flowers
are terminated on long branches or peduncles.
Summer
The leaves are
ovate to ovate lanceolate.
1-3 inches long. short-petioled and acute. The leaf
margins are sharply dentate. The alternate
leaves are glabrous with glaucous-blue lower
surfaces.
var. album - White flowered form of the species.
'Apoyama' - Violet-blue flowers on stems 10 inches tall.
Flowers all summer.
'Double BIue' - Double blue flowers, 18-24 inches tall.
'Fuji' - blue, white or pink colors.
'Hakone Blue' - Double blue flowers, 20 inches tall.
var. mariesii - Compact. 18 inches tall, bright blue
flowers.
Sentimental Series - Compact, 6-8 inches
tall and 12-15 inches wide. Available in blue or
white.
Platycodon is Greek for “broad
bell,” referring to the shape of the flowers.
The common name of balloon flower describes the
inflated balloon-like buds.
