Widely popular among gardeners, Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) is a compact herbaceous perennial with bell-shaped, flaring, violet-blue flowers, up to 2-3 in. across (5-7 cm), adorned with 5 broad, pointed lobes that form a star shape. Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are easy perennials with flowers that emerge from puffy buds.

Context Explanation

Learn to grow this summer bloomer with this guide. Platycodon grandiflorus (from Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús), meaning "flat", and κώδων (kódon) meaning "bell") is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only member of the genus Platycodon. Platycodon grandiflorus, commonly called balloon flower, is a clump-forming perennial that 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. Platycodon grandiflorus -- the Balloon Flower -- earns its common name from one of the most unusual bud formations in the perennial garden.

Insight Material

Before the star-shaped bell flowers open, the buds inflate like miniature hot-air balloons: five sepals fuse to create a sealed, air-filled globe that swells progressively over several days before the petals push through the top and open outward into the ... The Balloon Flower plant, also known as Platycodon grandiflorus, is a popular perennial that is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It is a member of the Campanulaceae family and is characterized by its unique balloon-shaped buds that burst open to reveal star-shaped flowers.