'Astra Blue'
Dwarf Balloon Flower
"There is more pleasure in making a garden than in contemplating a paradise."
-Anne Scott-James (Lady Lancaster),
b. 1913
b. 1913
'Astra Blue' is a compact dwarf form of Platycodon grandiflorus hybrid Balloon Flower. It is at most eight inches to a foot tall but frequently remaines four to six inches tall, with a scant six to eight inch spread. Only the foliage is dwarf; the flowers are as large as tall full-sized cultivars.
Planted eight inches apart they can form a long-flowering groundcover. It grows easily from seed, does well in containers & window boxes, & is a good edging or rockery plant.
Native to east Asia, balloon flowers are also known as Chinese or Japanese Bellflowers, or Jie-Geng. In Chinese herbal medicine it is alleged to have healing value for ailments of the lungs & throat. Edible roots are valued in Oriental cuisine.
It thrives in zones 4 through 8. It best likes full sun but tolerates a bit of shade, & prefers medium-moist extremely well-draining organically rich soil, but can be attempted in droughtier positions.
Blooms begin in July & last until first frost, especially if spent flowers are periodically picked off. The blooms are about three inches wide with thicker petals than most balloon flowers & of an intense blue similar to blue dalmation bellflowers.
Just before the buds burst open they form charming round balloons for which this perennial is named. The balloon-buds & opened blossoms last well as cut flowers, although for the cutting garden, taller variety would likely be preferred, as full-sized varieties grow two or three feet tall.
After winter dormancy, the clumps reappear quite late in spring so the location should be well-marked so as not to be dig near or damage the sensitive crowns. The roots dislike disruption & little clumps should not be molested once they are established, though if necessary division is possible if done carefully.