Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra White' (Astra Series)

RHS Plant Profile
balloon flower 'Astra White'

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Synonyms

Platycodon 'Astra White'

Herbaceous Perennial
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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

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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