Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'

$29⁵⁵

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Plant Size

#1 Container

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Flowering and Attracts pollinators

Specifications

Botanical Name

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'
Height

8 ft
Width

12 ft
Growing Zones

3-8
Sunlight
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Blue
Leaf Color
- Green
Fall Color

Green
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Late Summer
Does Not Ship To

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, LA, MS, MT, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the most vibrant blue color and sturdy stems, plant in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light). While it handles partial shade well in hotter climates, too much shade often leads to floppy stems that require staking.
Soil: These plants crave organic, well-draining soil that stays consistently moist but never soggy. If you have heavy clay, mix in some compost or aged bark to improve drainage, as their fleshy taproots will rot if they sit in standing water.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water twice a week to help the deep taproot establish itself in your garden. Once mature, Sentimental Blue is quite drought-tolerant, but providing an inch of water per week during the heat of summer prevents the foliage from yellowing. Inconsistent moisture during the budding stage often results in smaller "balloons" and a shorter overall bloom cycle.

Pruning Tips

Since this variety blooms on new growth, you should leave the dead foliage standing through winter to mark the spot, as they are very late to emerge in spring. In late fall or early spring, cut the old stems back to the ground to make way for new shoots. Deadheading spent blooms throughout the summer encourages the plant to produce a second flush of flowers rather than putting its energy into seed production.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (like a 10-10-10 formula) once in early spring as soon as you see new green growth poking through the soil. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this stimulates tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. A single spring feeding provides all the fuel needed for a full season of those iconic "inflated" buds.

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Growing Zones 3-8

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Your Very Whimsical Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower

Amazing True-Blue Balloon Shaped Flowers
Easy To Grow and Care for
Low Maintenance Plant
Green-Grey Foliage

Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue') is one of the most unique plants that you will ever grow in your garden.

Even though it is a classic garden plant in Europe, it isn't often seen in American gardens, which is a shame. Help us trumpet the joys of this great garden flower by planting some at your home this year!

Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower has some of the most interesting flower buds ever and typically bloom from May to August.

They look for all the world like little blue hot-air balloons and they swell and swell until they burst open into beautiful true-blue flowers with purplish veining. Kids are enthralled by them.

Sentimental Blue is perfect in the front of the perennial border or lining a walkway. They make great accents in rock gardens and are star performers in containers.

Grey-green leaves back the long-lasting flowers which give them quite the 'designer look', which are perfect for cutting too.

Sentimental Blue is very low-maintenance once it's established, but note that it emerges late in the spring so care must be taken not to damage the crowns with early spring cultivation. With very little care this beauty will reward you with years of garden whimsy!

Order your very own Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower today from Nature Hills! It's a fan favorite, so the sooner you order the better!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'

Plant Sentry™

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