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Herbaceous Perennial

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra White' (Astra Series)

balloon flower 'Astra White'

A compact, clump-forming perennial to 30cm tall, making a mound of ovate, bluish-green leaves. In summer it produces clusters of large, inflated balloon-like buds; these open to upward-facing white flowers. Grow in a rock garden, container or front of a border

Synonyms

Platycodon 'Astra White'

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Platycodon are herbaceous perennials with neat, ovate leaves and terminal clusters of open bell-shaped flowers which open from large, balloon-shaped buds in late summer
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, light, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Established plants resent disturbance

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring, division in summer, or detatch rooted basal shoots in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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