Common Name: |
Chinses Bellflower |
Other Names: |
Balloon Flower |
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. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 323-324 |