I have one that stays short and bushy, maybe 10-12" tall, and I had one that got about 3' and it was a floppy sparse ugly shape although the blooms were wonderful. Love the former, dug up the latter last year. The shorter one seems to keep the little blue balloons longer before they open. I also have a white which is tall and rangey, but the blooms are pretty. Haven't decided if it's going to stay. All get/got about 1/2 day sun, and deadheading every 4 weeks. Late to break in the spring so give them time. No other care except water when the sprinkler ran and ferts when I fertilized the perennial beds in spring and early fall. I have mixed feelings about them. I love the blooms but the plant form isn't the greatest.

I recently got some blue balloon flower seeds from a friend to try this year for the first time. I'll share some with ya cynthia if you want to give them a try too.

I have blue and pink, and they do relatively well. Looking to add more this year.

I like my balloon flowers. I can never really get them to go gangbusters up here. Mine top out around 8 inches, but they are pretty when they bloom. Here is a pic of one with some caladiums.

I have a couple and they bloom but don't really do well. They just survive.
Jim

I purchased mine from Sam's last year, and was so happy, I bought some more this morning.

Janie

Are these perennials north of Dallas? I have never grown them before, but have seen them many times at the nurseries.

Janie, Jim, rcnaylor...did you plant yours in the shade or sun?

I thought they wanted sun but the photo above shows them with caladiums. I'm really excited because I have lots more shade to part sun than full sun.

cynthia

Mine are in the shade from noon on. The first ones I planted in full sun, and they didn't last any time at all. They can't take a lot of heat.
Jim

Thank You! That gets me really excited

cynthia

Heck if I know Cynthia. Most of mine that seem to survive (but never quite thrive) are in partial shade. The one in the pic was planted one year where it was mostly sun, then a wisteria took off, so by the next year the caladium were put in its shade.

My uninformed guess would be that they are one of those plants that need "full sun"... unless you are talking about TEXAS sun. hehe. Then something like part sun works better.

Mine get afternoon shade, like from noon on, too.

I think I will plant these I just got with the caladiums I just bought too. LOL

I like that.

Janie

This one is on a cedar fence, facing north.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sentimental Blue

Very pretty jperilloux! My balloon flowers aren't doing too well after all the rain we've had although they are in containers. They were beautiful and blooming like crazy before all the water but now, the blooms are sparse and very weak. They have always only gotten morning sun so I don't know what has happened. Any tips?

Are the containers able to drain? While these are thirsty plants, if the roots are sitting in water they'll drown.