Seeds Balloonflower
Balloonflower
(Platycodon grandiflorus)
Balloonflower is a charming perennial known for its inflated, balloon-like buds that pop open into star-shaped blue-violet flowers. Long cultivated in ornamental and medicinal gardens, this hardy plant also has a history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). With its upright habit and long-lived roots, balloonflower brings beauty and herbal value to diversified landscapes.
Key Characteristics
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Traditional Chinese Medicinal Root (Jie Geng)
The root, known in TCM as Jie Geng (桔梗), has been traditionally used to support respiratory health, soothe sore throats, and promote healthy lung function. Roots are typically harvested in the fall of the second or third year. -
Distinctive Balloon Buds & Star-Shaped Blooms
Flower buds swell like small balloons before opening into five-pointed blue to violet blossoms. Blooms are long-lasting and make excellent cut flowers. -
Pollinator-Visited Summer Blooms
Flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects during mid-to-late summer, contributing nectar during a key seasonal window. -
Long-Lived, Deep-Rooted Perennial
Develops a thick taproot and prefers not to be disturbed once established. Suitable for borders, herb gardens, and the herbaceous layer of food forest edges.
Product Details
- Botanical Name: Platycodon grandiflorus
- Native Range: East Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
- Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Requirements: Medium, well-drained
- Mature Height: 1.5–2.5 feet
- Bloom Time: June–August
- Bloom Color: Blue to violet (occasionally white forms)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Surface sow in spring; light aids germination. Choose a well-drained site and avoid frequent transplanting due to the plant’s deep taproot. Harvest roots in fall after at least two full growing seasons for traditional medicinal use. In permaculture systems, integrate balloonflower into perennial herb beds where it can establish long term without disturbance.
Balloonflower combines ornamental charm, pollinator value, and respected herbal tradition—an elegant and useful perennial for medicinal gardens.
Original: $4.95
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$1.73Product Information
Product Information
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Description
Balloonflower
(Platycodon grandiflorus)
Balloonflower is a charming perennial known for its inflated, balloon-like buds that pop open into star-shaped blue-violet flowers. Long cultivated in ornamental and medicinal gardens, this hardy plant also has a history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). With its upright habit and long-lived roots, balloonflower brings beauty and herbal value to diversified landscapes.
Key Characteristics
-
Traditional Chinese Medicinal Root (Jie Geng)
The root, known in TCM as Jie Geng (桔梗), has been traditionally used to support respiratory health, soothe sore throats, and promote healthy lung function. Roots are typically harvested in the fall of the second or third year. -
Distinctive Balloon Buds & Star-Shaped Blooms
Flower buds swell like small balloons before opening into five-pointed blue to violet blossoms. Blooms are long-lasting and make excellent cut flowers. -
Pollinator-Visited Summer Blooms
Flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects during mid-to-late summer, contributing nectar during a key seasonal window. -
Long-Lived, Deep-Rooted Perennial
Develops a thick taproot and prefers not to be disturbed once established. Suitable for borders, herb gardens, and the herbaceous layer of food forest edges.
Product Details
- Botanical Name: Platycodon grandiflorus
- Native Range: East Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
- Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Requirements: Medium, well-drained
- Mature Height: 1.5–2.5 feet
- Bloom Time: June–August
- Bloom Color: Blue to violet (occasionally white forms)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Surface sow in spring; light aids germination. Choose a well-drained site and avoid frequent transplanting due to the plant’s deep taproot. Harvest roots in fall after at least two full growing seasons for traditional medicinal use. In permaculture systems, integrate balloonflower into perennial herb beds where it can establish long term without disturbance.
Balloonflower combines ornamental charm, pollinator value, and respected herbal tradition—an elegant and useful perennial for medicinal gardens.
