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 December
2001
 Iris
unguicularis
November
2001
Hymenoxis
herbacea
October
2001
Pellaea
atropurpurea
September
2001
Zauschneria
garrettii
 August
2001
Platycodon
grandiflorum
'Sentimental
Blue'
July
2001
Callirhoe
involucrata
June
2001
Helianthemum
nummularium
hybrids
May
2001
Viola
pedata 'Bicolor'
April
2001
Anemonella
thalictroides
March
2001
Fritillaria
pudica
February
2001
Castilleja
rupicola
January
2001
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii
Archive 2004
Archive
2003
Archive
2002
Archive
2000
Archive
1999
Archive
1998
Archive
1997
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Plant
of the Month
August
2001
Platycodon
grandiflorum 'Sentimental Blue'
by Iza Goroff
Platycodon
grandiflorum is a member of the Campanulaceae, named
after the genus Campanula, the genus with by far the most
species in the family. The genus Platycodon has only this
species, Platycodon
grandiflorum. Platycodon
grandiflorum is native to northeast Asia, including
China and Japan.
Most forms
of Platycodon grandiflorum are
too tall for the rock garden. However, the subspecies
apoyama from Mt. Apoi in Japan
is quite small. A cultivar grown in the United Kingdom,
'Blue Pygmy', is said to be
extra compact and large flowered.
'Sentimental Blue' is a
cultivar which also is compact and large flowered and is
readily available in many North American nurseries.
'Sentimental Blue' grows about
7 - 10" (17 - 25 cm) tall with 2" (5cm) diameter blue
flowers, bluer than its Campanula relatives, but not as blue
as gentians. It has the typical balloon buds of the Balloon
Flower.
Platycodon
grandiflorum in all of its forms is best grown in
half shade in most of the USA, although those areas which
have little sun may find it best unshaded. It is hardy
throughout the USA. 'Sentimental
Blue' may be divided or grown from seed. If dwarf
forms are near tall ones, the seed is likely to not produce
consistent dwarfs.
Platycodon
grandiflorum 'Sentimental Blue' is a very valuable
plant for its showiness at a time when few plants are in
bloom in the rock garden.
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