A balloon flower is a dark blue, pink, purple, or white, star-shaped flower that blooms in summer. As its name implies, it usually swells up like a balloon just before the blossoms open. It is native to many Asian countries, but also grows in most areas of the continental United States.
The blooms of this flower typically point straight up toward the sky, but may sometimes curl inward. They often have purple veins along the inside of the petals. There is usually a white stamen — the male reproductive part of a flower — in the center of the bloom, which is normally star-shaped as well. Mature blossoms are normally two to three inches (5.08 to 7.62 cm) wide.
The leaves of this flower are usually dark green in color. They are typically pointed at the end, with ragged edges. They may have deep veins running through the center of them as well. They are attached to thick stems that are normally also dark green.
A common balloon flower may grow anywhere from two to three feet (.6 to .9 m) in height. They might also spread up to a foot (.3 m) wide. They generally grow best when planted in full sunlight, but could also need afternoon shade, if grown in very hot or humid climates.
This plant is sometimes referred to as a Chinese bellflower or Japanese bellflower. It is often placed in flowerbeds as an accent plant. It might also grow well in containers or hanging baskets, as this flower does not tend to spread excessively or crowd other nearby plants.
The balloon flower is a perennial plant, which means that it grows back year after year, following a dormant period. Even so, the flower may not produce blooms until the second year after planting. Small seedlings can occasionally look like weeds, so gardeners may want to use caution when doing spring weeding to prevent pulling these flowers up by accident.
In Korea, this plant is sometimes used as a medicine. There, it is often used to treat coughs and colds. It could also be used as an anti-inflammatory remedy. It may also be used in salads or in preparing other authentic Korean dishes.
These flowers are usually resistant to common garden insects and are fairly cold-hardy. They typically need only to be watered weekly and fed a nitrogen-based fertilizer annually. A balloon flower might be a good choice for beginning or intermediate gardeners who are looking for a colorful yet unique addition to their backyards.
