Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Fuji Blue Balloon Flower: Puffy Buds That Pop Open in July
Save
Fuji Blue balloon flower is the plant children remember. Its buds swell into rounded, five-sided balloons that split open into wide, star-shaped bells 2 to 2.5 inches across, deep violet-blue with fine darker veins. Gently squeezing a ripe bud to hear it pop is a summer tradition, and adults do it too, even if they pretend otherwise.
Fuji Blue at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Platycodon grandiflorus 'Fuji Blue' |
| Flowers | Deep violet-blue bells, 2 to 2.5 inches across |
| Foliage | Bluish green, toothed leaves on upright stems |
| Size | About 20 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Best uses | Borders, cottage gardens, cut flowers, pollinator gardens |
A matching color with a bolder shape
Most lavender companions are chosen for contrast. Fuji Blue is chosen for harmony. Its blue-violet bells sit in the same color family as lavender, and they open in midsummer just as English lavender reaches its peak. The difference is shape: big, open stars against slender spikes. Plant it in small groups in the middle of the bed, where its 20-inch stems rise just above most lavender mounds.
Both plants want sun and drainage, and balloon flower is not fussy about soil quality, so it slips easily into a lavender planting. Map it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun to part shade. In hot afternoon sun the blue can fade, so a little afternoon shade helps hold the color.
- Soil: well drained, of almost any quality. Soggy soil rots the fleshy roots.
- Water: regularly while it settles in, then it handles dry spells.
- Deadheading: pinch off individual spent flowers to keep the buds coming.
- Do not move it: it grows a fleshy taproot, so pick a permanent spot from the start.
The late riser
Balloon flower is one of the last perennials to wake up in spring. Many a gardener has assumed it died over winter and dug right into the crown. Mark the spot with a label or a stake in fall, and wait. It is very hardy in Michigan, and good drainage is what carries it through winter. Pests are few, with only occasional aphids or whiteflies.
As a cut flower
The Fuji series is a taller balloon flower line commonly grown for cutting. Cut stems when a few bells are open and more balloons are ready to pop, and they will continue to open in the vase. Blue bells and fresh lavender make a lovely midsummer jar on the kitchen table. Bees visit the flowers too, so leave plenty on the plant.
Frequently asked questions
Is it deer resistant?
Moderately. Deer browse it less than many perennials, but they may nibble it.
How is it sold?
As a bare root plant for planting straight into the garden. See the product page for current availability.
Share how it went in your field