Platycodon grandiflorus, Herbal Garden Balloon Flower - Live Plant

Sow Exotic

$19.95 

Whimsical Blooms That Pop with Beauty and Medicinal Power

Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), also called Chinese Bellflower or Doraji, is a cold-hardy perennial herb known for its puffy, balloon-like buds that burst open into stunning star-shaped blue-violet flowers. Native to East Asia and used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine, it’s as healing as it is ornamental—especially cherished for its soothing root, used to support lung health, coughs, and inflammation.

This low-maintenance plant thrives in sunny garden beds and borders, adding dreamy vertical interest and attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its edible root can be prepared like a vegetable or dried for teas and tinctures. Balloon Flower is a perfect fit for medicinal herb gardens, pollinator plots, and cottage-style borders.

Why You'll Love It:

  • Unique balloon-like buds burst into stunning blue-violet stars
  • Medicinal root used in teas, soups, and herbal formulas
  • Cold-hardy, perennial, and easy to grow
  • Attracts bees and butterflies to your garden
  • Perfect for cottage gardens, herbal borders, and pollinator beds

Growing Tips:

  • Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
  • Avoid disturbing the roots once established—Balloon Flower doesn’t like to be moved
  • Water regularly but don’t overwater—roots may rot in soggy soil
  • Cut back stems after flowering to encourage more blooms and tidy growth
  • Harvest roots in fall after 1–2 years for medicinal use
Family Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)
Origin East Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
Plant Type Flowering Herb / Medicinal Perennial
Life Cycle Perennial
Food Forest Layer Herb / Groundcover Layer
Mature Size 1–2 ft tall and wide
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Needs Moderate
Harvest Season Summer (flowers), Fall (roots)
Time to Harvest 1–2 years for roots
Self-Fertile Yes
Growth Rate Moderate
Zones USDA Zones 3–9
Florida Native No
Propagation Seeds, Root Division
Seasonal Characteristics Deciduous; blooms midsummer with starry flowers

This plant ships in plantable coconut coir pots or recyclable nursery pots! Just pop them in the ground or reuse and recycle. Look in the photos for a pot size guide.

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