Balloon Flower

Balloon Flower

This genus contains a single species of perennial that occurs in E Asia. It is closely related to Campanula. Platycodon grandiflorus is an easily grown border plant with double-flowered cultivars in shades of pink and white, and dwarf variants that are popular for rock gardens and containers. The first plants to reach the West were sent by Robert Fortune to England in 1844. Platycodon has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, being first mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing during the Han dynasty (206BCE-CE23). It is widely used in patent remedies, notably, platycodi cough tablets. Platycodon is from the Greek platys, "broad", and kodon, "bell", referring to the wide, bell-shaped flowers.

Erect, clump-forming perennial with thick roots and blue-green, ovate, toothed leaves. to 5cm (2in) long. Large, inflated buds open into 5-petaled, bell-shaped, usually blue flowers, 5cm (2in) across, in summer.

Common Name:

Balloon Flower

Other Names:

Chinese bellflower

Botanical Name:

Platycodon grandiflorus

Genus:

Platycodon

Family:

Campanulaceae

Native Location:

N China, Japan, Korea, and Russia (E Siberia)

Cultivation:

Rich, moise, well-drained, sandy soil in sun. Seedlings are very fragile and best planted out when dormant.

Propagation:

By seed sown in spring; by division in summer; by separating rooted basal shoots in early summer.

Harvest:

Roots are lifted in spring or autumn from plants 2-3 years old, peeled, and used fresh, or dried for decoctions and powders.

Variations:

var. albus
Has white flowers.

Apoyama
syn. var. apoyama
Is dwarf, with larger, deeper blue flowers.
Height: 20cm (8in)

Perlmutterschale
syn. Mother of Pearl
Has pale pink flowers.

Height:

40-90cm (16-36in)

Width:

30cm (12in)

Hardiness:

Z3-8

Parts Used:

Roots (jie geng)

Properties:

A bitter, pungent, warming herb that dilates the bronchial vessels; it is expectorant and effective against a number of disease causing organisms.

Medicinal Uses:

Internally for coughs with profuse phlegm, colds, bronchitis, pleurisy, pulmonary abscess, and throat infections. Combined with Glycyrrhiza uralensis (See, Chinese Licorice) for throat infections.

Culinary Uses:

Roots are eaten raw in salads, added to tonic soups, pickled, or preserved in sugar; also one of the seven herbs used to flavor Japanese sake.

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