When it arrives
Your plug tray
Plugs are small and tender. Pot into 4-inch pots and grow on 3–5 weeks in bright light, or plant out after frost. Keep evenly moist, harden off a week, and set the plug top level with the soil.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Sentimental Blue grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 8.0 in
- Mature spread
- 12.0 in
- Bloom
- Early-July – peak Mid-July
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Moderately resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Sentimental Blue
Balloon Flower · Platycodon grandiflorus
Plant in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil, and then be patient: it's one of the very last perennials to come up in spring. Once settled it's long-lived and blooms all summer.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Moderate waterAverage drainage
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pH 5.5–7.0Soil
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Zones 3a–8bHardiness
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8″ tall12″ wide
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Some resistanceDeer · rabbits susceptible
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Sentimental Blue will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–8b
Spring or early fall. Choose a permanent spot; the taproot dislikes moving.
Your year with Sentimental Blue
JFMAMJJASOND
When to plant
Spring or early fall. Choose a permanent spot; the taproot dislikes moving.
How deep
Set the top of the fleshy root (the crown buds) about 1 inch below the soil surface.
Spacing
12–18 inches.
Soil
Loam or sandy loam · pH 5.5–7.0
Fix-it tip: Add compost to heavy clay to improve drainage. The fleshy roots rot in soggy soil.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates part shade).
Light afternoon shade helps flower color in hot areas; deep shade makes stems flop.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Very late: shoots often don't appear until mid to late May or June in Michigan. Mark the spot so you don't dig into it. Balloon-like buds open from early summer.
Spring
Mark the spot and wait; very late to appear.
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Summer
Deadhead to keep blooms coming.
Fall
Cut back after frost.
Winter
No care needed.
Watering
First season: Water weekly the first season.
After that: Fairly drought tolerant; water in long dry spells.
Feeding
Light compost in spring is enough.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadhead spent flowers to extend bloom. Pinch tall types by half in late spring to reduce flopping. Cut back after frost.
Dividing
Rarely needed; the taproot resents disturbance.
Winter
Very hardy, to about zone 3. Mark the spot so it's not disturbed in spring.
Summer heat
Handles heat well; may need staking in rich soil.
No sign of the plant in May
Likely cause: Normal late emergence
What to do: Wait until mid to late June before giving up.
Stems flop over
Likely cause: Shade or rich soil
What to do: Pinch back in late spring or use a ring support.
Young shoots chewed
Likely cause: Slugs
What to do: Use traps or pet-safe slug bait in spring.
Too wet or too dry?
Yellowing and collapse suggest soggy soil. Wilting in drought means it needs water.
Watch for
- Slugs and snails on young shoots
- Root rot in wet soil
- Few other problems
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant. The root is eaten as a vegetable in Korea.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: susceptible
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Dwarf types do well in deep pots; overwinter pots in an unheated garage.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
No chill needed
Often blooms its first summer.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
Shares lavender's full sun and well-drained soil. Its blue-violet balloons echo lavender's color and bloom alongside it.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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