Native to China, eastern Siberia and Japan, this long-lived perennial is characterized by unopened
flower buds that resemble small inflated balloons. Common names include, Balloon Flower or
Chinese/Japanese Bellflower, which is derived from the unopened buds appearance.
Being one of the latest perennials to emerge in spring, planting locations should be well marked
in the garden, so you don't accidentally dig them up during spring cleanup.
Blooming from June through August, the 5 petaled flowers open from buds that swells up like a
balloon. As the buds mature, the balloon slowly expands, appearing as if it is going to burst. Once
opened, the flowers are graceful, saucer-shaped stars which resemble Campanulas.
The rigid, alternate, upright leafy stems are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, about 1-3 inches long.
They have sharply dentate margins, blue-green color and are neatly toothed.
Use Balloon flowers in your borders, rock gardens and cutting gardens. Plant them among other
summer blooming perennials such as Daisies, Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, Penstemon, Phlox, Achillea and
Veronica. The taller, dark colored varieties look great alongside baby's breath and the silvery
foliage of artemisia and Russian sage.
Plants can be divided or transplanted in spring or early fall, although division is not
usually necessary. The plants grow from large, thick, fleshy tap roots so divisions must be done
carefully. Reset the crown about one inch below the soil surface.
They make excellent, long lasting cut flowers if the base of the stem is seared with a flame
before placing into water.
Plants should be staked before they are flowering size because once they fall over, they usually
break when straightened.
Do not cut the old stems back in the fall after the blossoms have faded. It is better to let them
die away naturally so you don't injure the crown.
