For centuries the balloonflower has been a popular Japanese garden perennial. It forms a neat clump that spreads very little, flowers continuously from midsummer to fall and decorates the foot of a tree as handily as it softens the base of a sunny rock. The plants reach their full height in one season of growth, dying back to the
ground each winter, and will last with little or no attention for more than 20 years. The flowers in the traditional Japanese varieties are usually bluepurple, although some varieties have white or pink blooms. The buds are balloon shaped, accounting for their common name, but the opened flowers are saucer shaped, 2 inches wide. The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long, oval and slightly toothed. Normally the balloonflower is 2 to 3 feet tall, but a dwarf variety, 'Mariesii', grows only 18 inches high.

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Balloonflowers are hardy in Zones 3-10 and will grow in almost any kind of soil; however, they prefer a soil that is rich, moist and well drained. They do well in either full sun or partial shade. Plant in either spring or fall, spacing root clumps 12 inches apart. Balloonflowers should not be transplanted, once they are established, and are best propagated from seed sown in the spring or by setting out young container-grown plants.