Well, folks, it aint a hydrangea!
By Jan65
North East England,
United Kingdom 
A few weeks ago I posted a photo of a mystery plant that had sprung up in an old pot of compost, and asked if anyone could identify it, the general concensus being that it could be a hydrangea. I was really pleased because I'd had a hydrangea the year before in an identical pot and I thought it had died, so I presumed that this was it. Well, it isn't! The original photo I posted is on the left, but now the plant has produced these fantastic buds, which don't look like any hydrangea I've seen. Up until yesterday I still didn't know what it was, but when I was in B&Q last night, browsing the plants, I came across something called a balloon flower, and my plant looks exactly the same! Now that it's got these buds, can anyone confirm that this is what it is? It's a mystery to me how it got there, I don't remember ever having one of these before, and if it's seeded itself somehow then it managed to get slap bang in the middle of the pot (that's the only reason I didn't discard it as a weed originally!) I'd be grateful also if anyone could tell me a little bit about balloon flowers.
14 Jul, 2009
Answers
It looks like Platycodon Balloon Flower, but leaves are not quite as I remember them.
14 Jul, 2009
It is Platycodon (balloon flower)...I have this...very nice too...belongs to the campanula family....
14 Jul, 2009
Thank you all, I'm delighted that this is a balloon flower, can't wait for the buds to open ... what colour will they be, do you know?
14 Jul, 2009
this is fab, and what a brilliant name
am too now very excited on its bloom
lots of pics please
x x xx
15 Jul, 2009
Fabulous blue is what they should be
15 Jul, 2009
A nice perennial, mark where you plant it (it dies down to nothing and tends to get dug over by mistake!) Very slow to make a clump.
15 Jul, 2009
Easy to grow from seed too
15 Jul, 2009
Hi all, thanks for your replies. Having heard how easy it is to grow, and that it's a perennial, I'm tempted to go back to B&Q and rescue the ones they had in the bargain basement. No good for this year, perhaps, they were too far gone, but maybe they'd be okay next year given a little TLC? Or will they have died from neglect?
15 Jul, 2009
I'd give it a try, Jan - if they're dead you can't really do any more harm and if not you're onto a winner!
16 Jul, 2009
Thanks Pete, I think I'll be off to B&Q first thing tomorrow morning, hope they're still there! I dare say I won't only come home with the balloon flowers ... they also had some lovely lilly plants!
16 Jul, 2009
you can also get cultivars in shades of pink and pure white too. personally i prefer the blue form.
16 Jul, 2009
B&Q is off - it's pouring down, so I had a lie in instead, while hubby took daughter to school! First lazy day of the hols!
17 Jul, 2009
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The only species in the genus, Platycodon or Balloon flower is a semi-tuberous perennial native to China, Japan and Korea. Very frost hardy, but resents root disturbance. Grows well in any well-drained soil in full sun.
Much more interesting than a Hydrangea, and yes, I was one of those who originally got it wrong. Hope the above info helps. Looking foirward to seeing it in full bloom.
14 Jul, 2009