Platycodon commonly called Japanese or Chinese balloon flower is a single species genus of ornamental plants in the Campanulaceae family, native to East Asia including China, Japan and Korea.
Platycodon grandiflorus Classically blue, but also available in white and pink, and in single and double varieties. The tuberous root is eaten and used in Chinese medicine. Hardy to zone 4. It can be late to appear above ground in Spring and will die back before the first frosts. Variety mariesii discovered by Charles Maries is more compact. Buds bulge balloon like before popping opening. F1 hybrid versions are sold as pot plants and will flower from seed in one season. Sowing seed early in the year indoors achieves the fastest progress to flowering because once the days start to shorten plants stop growing new foliage. Flowering time July. Photos by David Pilling.
