{"product_id":"sentimental-blue-balloon-flower-72-cell-plug-tray","title":"Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower - 72-Cell Plug Tray","description":"\u003cp\u003eSentimental Blue is a dwarf balloon flower, only 6 to 8 inches tall, with inflated buds that open into blue bell-shaped flowers in midsummer. It blooms heavily for its size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts low habit makes it a natural for the front of a border, rock gardens and containers. It is rarely troubled by pests or disease, bees visit the flowers, and deer browse it less than many perennials, though they may nibble it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it looks like\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuds swell into small, rounded, five-sided balloons that open into star-shaped bells about 1.5 to 2 inches across with five pointed lobes, in medium violet-blue with fine darker veins. The flowers sit close over the foliage, facing upward, with balloon buds tucked among them. Leaves are small, oval, toothed and bluish green on short stems. The plant forms a low, compact mound about 6 to 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide. At peak bloom the tiny mound is covered in blue stars and buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGrowing it with lavender\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis dwarf balloon flower shares lavender's taste for sun and good drainage, and its low blue bells make a neat edging in front of lavender plants in midsummer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil of almost any quality; it tolerates dry spells once established. Hardy in zones 3-8. It is one of the last perennials to sprout in spring, so mark its spot, and avoid moving established plants because of the fleshy taproot; deadhead to extend bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Platycodon grandiflorus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Violet-blue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bluish green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low, compact mound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6–8 in tall × 12 in wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA hardiness zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, part sun to part shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom start:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early-July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeak bloom:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid-July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom pattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long Blooming\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderately resistant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSizes and shipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping note:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fleshy taproot resents disturbance, and plants emerge late in spring, so dormant plants can look empty on arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Great Lakes Lavender Farm","offers":[{"title":"72-Cell Plug Tray","offer_id":67724088705320,"sku":"GLLF-PER-8FB61604-72","price":414.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/0736\/9768\/files\/sentimental-blue-balloon-flower.jpg?v=1790865091","url":"https:\/\/greatlakeslavenderfarm.com\/products\/sentimental-blue-balloon-flower-72-cell-plug-tray","provider":"Great Lakes Lavender Farm","version":"1.0","type":"link"}