Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC.
Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower
Although related to bellflowers, balloon flowers are the only members of the genus Platycodon, meaning “broad bell.” The name “balloon flower” comes from the appearance of the unopened flowers, which resemble hot air balloons. It is native to China, Korea, Japan, and eastern Siberia. It is becoming naturalized in a few states in the United States, and its cultivars are popular in flower gardens.
Identification: Plants are Leaves are
Plants: 1–3′ (30–91 cm) tall.
Leaves: Oval-shaped, with serrated edges and pointed tips, 1½–3″ (3.8–7.6 cm) long.
Flowers: Star-shaped 5-petaled flowers are blue, blue-violet, white, or pink, 2–3″ (5–7.6 cm) across. Flowers appear from June to August.
Fruits: Shiny conical segmented capsules about ½″ (1.3 cm) long.
Habitats: Grassy slopes in hills and mountains in China, Japan, Korea and Siberia.
Edibility: The large roots, which are toxic when raw, are prized in Asian cuisines when cooked. Roots are peeled, blanched in salt water, then fried, pickled, or added to soups. They contain antioxidants and immunostimulants. Uppermost leaves are also edible as an addition to salads.
Online References:
Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.， orth. var.
8/4/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
8/4/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
8/4/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/15/2009 · Naumanns, Chelmsford, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 7″ (22 × 17 cm) 
7/31/2008 · Falmouth, Maine 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Asterales | Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies |
| Family | Campanulaceae | Campanula or bellflower family; means “bell-shaped flowers” |
| Genus | Platycodon | From the Greek platys, “broad,” and kodon, “bell,” for the shape of the corolla |
| Species | grandiflorus | Large-flowered |
Platycodon grandiflorus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.