Balloon Flower plant profile
Platycodon grandiflorus
A perennial flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Balloon Flower
Balloon flower is a clumping perennial set out as a plant. NC State notes its fleshy roots make division and transplanting difficult, so any division should be done in spring; plant in spring once the soil is workable for a late-spring-to-summer bloom.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Balloon Flower in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 36 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: root rot in wet soil.
Next steps
Continue with Balloon Flower
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.